Re-invigoration of Trees. 47 



tions upon the re-invigoration of old trees, 

 whether conifers or hard woods. This is 

 recommended only in the case of specimen 

 or ornamental trees, and not for the more 

 rapid growth of the tree for purely 

 commercial purposes. 



That it can be done is a fact and not a 

 mere expression of an unproved theory. 



When such trees show signs of a feeble 

 vitality the stems, if covered with moss and 

 lichen, may be scraped and washed, taking 

 care of course not to injure the inner bark. 

 The soil round the base of the tree, at a 

 distance equal to the spread of the reduced 

 branches, should be dug out and thrown 

 aside, say three feet wide and from two 

 to four feet deep, according to the dimensions 

 of the tree, but so as to expose all the lateral 

 root-fibre. The top soil may be retained for 

 mixing with a leaf compost, and the whole of 

 the trench should be filled up with this 

 mixture. If the roots spread beyond the 

 branches after cutting back, they may also 

 be cut. New root-fibre will be speedily 

 formed in the leaf compost, and the result 



