158 PRACTICAL TREE REPAIR 



Then the surface can be warmed with a gasoline 

 torch, not held too near, and irregular places can 

 be pounded down with a mallet. Finally, the 

 entire surface must be given a heavy coat of hot 

 asphalt to which about one fifth of its bulk of 

 " Varnolene " oil has been added. In some 

 cases it may be worth while to reinforce this 

 dressing with cotton padding in the way that has 

 been described in discussing the treatment of 

 wounds. 



Besides being used in the form of briquettes, a 

 mixture of asphalt with excelsior or with sawdust, 

 at the rate of about a pound of sawdust to three 

 pounds of asphalt, has great value applied directly 

 to the cavity, especially for filling small holes. 

 All that is necessary is to melt the asphalt, mix 

 in the excelsior or sawdust and press the mixture 

 into the cavity. A little practical experience will 

 teach any one the points which must be observed 

 in handling these materials. The " asphalt staff," 

 for instance, must be held in place a few minutes 

 until it hardens. After a filling of staff has 

 hardened it can be trimmed to shape, and can be 

 nailed to the wood by nails driven slantwise 

 through its edges. Finally, It must receive a 

 thorough dressing of metal or fluxed asphalt. 

 Many combinations of briquettes with staff or 

 asphalt-sawdust mixture will at once suggest them- 

 selves. 



