112 General Care of Trees 
practically be untenable, there are nevertheless many cases 
of neglect where a skilful surgeon can at least improve 
matters. 
All stumps left from improper pruning or from breakages 
of branches should, of course, be removed, and the newly 
made wounds, as well as neglected old branch wounds, prop- 
erly treated. If the rot has penetrated into the trunk, it is 
well to gouge out as much rotten wood as possible, then 
apply an antiseptic, such as the Bordeaux mixture or per- 
haps carbolineum (a mixture of heavy coal-tar oils), which 
especially if applied hot, will not only kill the fungus my- 
celium for some distance, but 
also exclude air and new 
infection. Then cover with a 
heav, coat of paint or tar. 
If the cavity is large, plug up 
with wood and paint, or fill up 
with rubble and cement, or 
with cement alone. In this way 
the trunk of a stately oak, per- 
haps a thousand years old, 
which had been hollowed out 
a by decay, was restored to 
iy “e | it stability, the cavity being built 
HAN Mh HIE up with brick and cement, 
and the color and fissures of 
Fic. 43 — Branch holes and their —— 
treatment. To the mght a the bark were successfully Imi- 
plugged branch hole satisfac- d 
torily healed, to the left, a tated. 
similiar hole untreated, giving Mutilations of the trunk or 
entrance to rot . 
bole are treated in a manner 
similar to that prescribed for neglected branch wounds. 
In these cases, if no healthy and regular callus formation 
has begun, the wound should be trimmed back on its mar- 
