BRACING 199 



The question of when to brace is not easy to 

 answer. A limb requires bracing if serious decay 

 appears in it or in the trunk from which it springs; 

 if a bad crotch has developed; or if, for any rea- 

 son, including natural growth, the load supported 

 by the limb has increased to such a degree in com- 

 parison with its strength as to make it look, and 

 be, " dangerous." A tree as a whole may require 

 bracing if trees near-by which have protected it 

 from the wind have been removed, if the tree's 

 foothold has been weakened, if its trunk is de- 

 cayed, if it has lost large branches and become lop- 

 sided, or if structures have been placed beneath it 

 which would make its fall especially disastrous. 



Some kinds of trees require bracing oftener than 

 others. The fruit trees lead, and especially the 

 apple, with its long horizontal branches. Trees 

 which form close crotches, as the silver maple and 

 elm, and weak-wooded trees, as tulip, linden, wil- 

 low, and some maples, are especially apt to need 

 preventive or corrective strengthening. 



Judgment, careful investigation, and observa- 

 tion under stress of ice-storm or full crop, must 

 supplement the above rules as to when to brace. 

 In any event, the presumption should be in favor 

 of bracing. It is good insurance, like the stitch 

 in time. A few dollars' worth of iron, though not 

 essential now, may some day save you the loss and 

 sorrow caused by the destruction or mutilation of 



