146 PRACTICAL TREE REPAIR 



the filling. Shade the filling from the sun and 

 after it has become a little harder sprinkle it 

 with water occasionally to " cure " the surface. 

 Finally, treat the surface with a waterproof com- 

 pound or paint. 



It is obvious that this method can be, indeed 

 must be, modified to meet special needs and special 

 conditions. If the filling is in a small tree the 

 poles at the sides can be dispensed with, and the 

 canvas strips can be run completely around the 

 tree. If canvas is not handy, rope can be used, 

 some slats and a piece of burlap, perhaps, or a 

 piece of old carpet, being laid against the oil-cloth 

 to stiffen it. 



Some may think that a filling done in this way 

 will result in too flat a surface across the mouth 

 of the cavity. The writer considers a flattish 

 surface stronger, more favorable to the growth 

 of calluses, and better looking than a much rounded 

 surface, but if greater convexity is desired it 

 can easily be secured, either by leaving the canvas 

 strips loose, so as to let the oil-cloth bag out a 

 little, or by leaning a pole or two against the open- 

 ing inside the oil-cloth, to hold it back from the 

 opening. If the filling is so shallow that con- 

 vexity is necessary to give it strength, asphalt 

 ought to be used in place of concrete. 



If for any reason it is desired to have the con- 

 crete harden very quickly, a ten per cent, solution 



