226 PRACTICAL TREE REPAIR 



Intervals from the time it is set out until it reaches 

 maturity, the necessity need not often arise for 

 cutting large limbs. Pruning can also largely pre- 

 vent the formation of bad crotches. Both these 

 ends are attained mainly through care to prevent 

 the formation of too large a number of branches 

 from the main trunk during the tree's formative 

 period. Limbs which wear against each other 

 must of course be eliminated as soon as they are 

 noticed. 



Bracing is another very important prevention 

 of the formation of bad wounds, and of splits and 

 crotches which give the spores of fungi entrance 

 to the heartwood. 



There are a vast number of petty ways in which 

 trees receive injuries which are entirely unneces- 

 sary. Such, for instance, as driving spikes into 

 them to tie the clothes-line to, nailing signs to 

 them, using them as supports for fence wire and 

 chicken netting, and setting plank seats between 

 pairs of trees. These small vandalisms must be 

 absolutely stopped if the health and beauty of the 

 trees are to be preserved. A few nails, to be 

 sure, won't damage a tree much, but they hurt it a 

 little, and they are a standing invitation to further 

 maltreatment. 



Another large class of wounds has its origin in 

 bruises to the trunks of trees by tools and wagons. 

 On the lawn the greatest offender is the lawn- 



