448 Oil the Supportijig of 



great majority of cases, no such difficulty occurs ; and, when 

 it does, the more perfect plan of propping (hereafter to be 

 described) effectually obviates all such objections. 



In the mean time, however, I shall enumerate a few of the 

 methods I practised before I attained to a knowledge of the 

 more perfect plan. Most trees, when removed, have one or 

 more branches wounded that it is prudent to amputate, or, 

 at least, have one or more that may be spared without causing 

 much deformity or injury. 



First Method. — I take advantage of such favourable circum- 

 stances to nail my props to the stumps of such condemned 

 branches, observing to insert the nail very near to the boll of 

 the tree, so as to obtain all possible firmness ; but leave the 

 stump from 10 in. to 12 in. or more long, to prevent its being 

 split by the insertion of the nail. When the tree is sufficiently 

 established, the connection with the props is terminated by 

 passing a saw close to the boll. 



The small-beer critic, who has drawn his little modicum of 

 lore from no other source than certain publications, includ- 

 ing your own, may probably here object to the loss of a 

 branch, and cavil about mutilation. I beg leave, however, to 

 assure him, that the lopping of a branch or two is not always 

 a heinous sin, but merely a matter of taste. 



It is certainly unnecessary, in so far as the success of the 

 operation of transplanting is concerned : but, at the same 

 time, it is frequently required to improve the appearance of 

 the tree ; and, when practised to this extent only, is perfectly 

 harmless. 



Second Method. — When there is no disposable branch in a 

 convenient situation, I have frequently effected my purpose 

 by weaving or entangling the upper end of my first prop be- 

 twixt two or more branches, describing an arc of a circle with 

 the lower end round part of the tree, till the hold among the 

 branches became sufficient, and in that position affixing the 

 lower end immediately to the stake. The hold is improved 

 and completed by nailing the second to the first prop. In this 

 manner, trees may be very effectually supported with but very 

 partial injury to such part of the bark as the props bear upon ; 

 and this trifling injury may be greatly diminished, or alto- 

 gether prevented, by permitting the end of one of the props to 

 project and rest upon a stake, as in the fourth method, here- 

 after to be noticed. 



Third Method. — In several cases I have secured trees of 

 20 ft. high and upwards, when they had no low branches, by 

 driving one effectual nail into the boll, about 2 ft. above the 

 surface, so as to secure one prop, and then nailing my second 



