72 DA VET^S PRIMER 



" What's he doing with the trowel? " 



He is not a mason nor a plasterer, Polly ; he is a 

 " tree doctor." He is pointing out what the " tree men " 

 generally are ignorant of; that is to say, inside that 

 tree, between the two points indicated, there is a large 

 quantity of water \vhich is rotting the tree. 



" How did the water get there? " 



Glad you asked that, Fanny. Every one should be 

 on the lookout and avoid the cause of such a calamity. 

 This is one of the "crotched" trees ; it stands at the en- 

 trance of Wade Park on Euclid Ave., Cleveland, O. In 

 this case you see the "fork" is where the "head" was 

 originally formed, forcing out two branches, instead of 

 having one the * ' Leader. ' ' One-half of the whole top 

 is on each branch and, as the wind blows, a great force 

 is brought to bear on either side, thus straining and 

 splitting it open. But Nature is very persistent, and 

 keeps on healing and repairing the damage. If you 

 look at it closely you will see a ridge formed and a rent 

 down the middle. So faithful is Nature that she keeps 

 on healing, but this brings about another trouble, and 

 catcher and holds the water, which hastens decay. In 

 one large maple, when holes were drilled, from ten to 

 fifteen gallons of putrid water ran out ! Tens of thou- 

 sands of trees are thus rotting to pieces while they live, 

 and their owners are not aware of it. Dreadful ! is it 

 not? Well, of course, you will now study the trees 

 along the streets, in your lawn and everywhere, 

 and tell your fathers and mothers all about these 

 troubles. 



