PRACTICAL TREE SURGERY 



397 



material. The method of attaching them to the tree is important. 

 If the guying is for temporary purposes only, two broad bands of 

 leather, stout canvas or other strong material, each long enough to 

 make a loop at least twice the diameter of the trunk or limb to be 

 encircled and 4 to 6 inches wide, may be passed around the tree 

 or some favorably situated limb and two adjoining guys attached 

 to each loose loop. 



If a more permanent guyjng is needed, two eyebolts (or hook 

 bolts) may be placed through parallel creosoted holes in the trunk 

 or the limb about half way up the tree, one about 6 inches above 

 the other. The eye of one bolt should be on the opposite side of 

 the tree from the other. Two guys from two adjoining posts are 

 attached to each eyebolt. The chafing of a limb against a guy may 

 be prevented by padding the guy if this latter cannot be so placed 

 as to clear the limbs. 



Limbs or trees should never be guyed by passing wires, chains 

 or ropes tightly around them. These may eventually strangle the 

 portions beyond the encircling band. Encircling fence wires, tele- 

 graph wires, clotheslines, or guy wires will act in the same way, 

 killing all parts of the tree beyond the wires if these remain tightly 

 drawn around the limb or trunk for any great 

 length of time occasionally in less than a 

 year (Fig. 309 C). 



305. Trees worth repairing. Most orna- 

 mental and shade trees having only a few dead 

 limbs are unquestionably worth attention. 

 Others which have many dead limbs or numer- 

 ous decayed areas may not be worth the ex- 

 pense, particularly if they are naturally rapid- 

 growing, short-lived trees. No one can decide 

 better than the owner of a tree whether it is 

 worth the attempt to save it, because usually 

 the actual commercial value of an ornamental 

 or shade tree has little or nothing to do with 

 the decision. It is generally a question merely 

 of esthetic value, or historic associations, or 

 rarity of the species. A man who has had 

 experience in repairing mutilated or diseased 

 trees may be able to say definitely whether it 

 is possible to save the tree, but the owner, 

 who pays the bills, is the one who will have to 

 decide whether the tree is worth the price it 

 will take to repair it. Often the owner will 



FIG. 310 ISN'T THIS 

 GHASTLY ? 



realize a greater degree of satisfaction by having a badly diseased or 

 mutilated tree replaced. In expert hands the moving of large trees 

 is no longer a hazardous undertaking. 



306. Commercial tree surgery. The writer's observation of the 

 workmen employed in commercial tree surgery leads to the conclu- 

 sion that few have any knowledge of the manner of growth of 



