PLANTING AND CARE OF TREES 



129 



figs. 45 and 46. The importance of making close, smooth cuts 

 and the necessity for protecting the wounds has been discussed 

 under the head of Pruning, and the work of repairing damage 

 from this cause will be discussed under the head of Renovation of 

 Trees. 



Injury From Horse Bites and Careless Driving — Where trees 

 have been used for hitching posts much injury has been the result. 

 Horses gnaw the bark and cause large wounds on mature trees. 

 (See fig. oQ>). Trees affected in this way are much Aveakened and 

 are liable to be blown down by wind. Unprotected young trees 

 are often girdled and killed by gnawing horses. Trees may be 

 protected from horse bites by using wire netting, but on account of 

 its unsightly appearance some cities prefer to deal with the problem 

 by passing and enforcing ordinances. In some cities the teamsters 

 and drivers who have been responsible for injury in this respect 



Fig. 56. "Cause and Effect." A familiar sight along city streets. 



have been heavily fined and as a result the trees are seldom injured. 

 A heavy fine, of course, will not restore an injured tree and since 

 there is likely to be some who are not familiar with the law and 

 who do not realize the danger, all trees near the curb should be 

 protected. In Washington, wire poultry-netting is used for this 

 purpose. It may be obtained in two-yard widths and just enough 

 may be cut off to reach around the tree. Sometimes it is wound 

 twice around. In either case the ends are fastened with light wire 



