50 Disease and Death of Trees — Generalities 
It is easy enough to get rid of any tree by cutting it, or by 
merely girdling, and, if it is a “sap-wood” tree, by sawing 
through the sap-wood, thereby cutting off water-supply 
from the foliage and food-supply from the root. While 
this works positively with conifers and many broad-leaf 
trees, there are some of the latter, which have such vigorous 
sprouting habit from the root that something more must 
be done to kill the root-stock. Removal is, of course, again 
the most effective but expensive method. With some, 
cutting through the root strands will expedite death; but 
others are so persistent that still another means must be 
added. ‘The most effective of these and least destructive 
to other vegetation, is the thorough drenching of the root- 
stock with kerosene which closes the breathing pores and 
chokes out life. 
