PARK AND CEMETERY. 
1 55 
CORRECT METHOD of BOLTING and CHAINING TREES 
In many instances it is necessary 
to render trees more secure by bolt- 
ing or chaining them to prevent in- 
jurj' and disfiguration. The process 
is not an expensive one and should be 
much more largely practiced than it 
is since there are many trees which 
are split or show a tendency to be- 
come so. Different devices are em- 
ployed for holding limbs together, 
some of which are objectionable, since 
they injure a tree. It has been a 
common practice in many places to 
put a chain around limbs to prevent 
splitting, but as the tree develops the 
chain becomes imbedded in the bark, 
partially girdling it, and disfiguring 
the tree to quite an extent. An exam- 
ple of this is shown in figure I. 
Another equally objectionable meth- 
od is illustrated in figure II, in which 
case strong bands of iron are put 
around limbs. An example of a large 
elm well supported by chains is shown 
in figure III. In this case bolts are 
placed through the limbs- and fast- 
ened by washers and nuts placed on 
the outside of the bark. Many prefer 
to use an iron rod rather than a chain. 
FIG. 3. CHAIN AND BOLT METHOD 
OF SUPPORTING LIMBS. 
FIG. 2. IRON BAND AROUND 
LIMBS OF TREE. 
Although both have their place, in 
our estimation the chain system is the 
better for most purposes. If it is nec- 
essary to secure rigidity and it is de- 
sired to fasten the limbs near the 
point of forking, an iron rod is prefer- 
able, but for long spaces remote from 
the junction of the limbs, as is shown 
in figure III, the chain method is far 
superior, since a rod is likely to break 
when any swaying of the tree occurs 
owing to its rigidity, whereas a chain, 
which is flexible, will stand a strain 
better. Moreover, steel chains are 
stronger than iron rods, and for this 
reason it is better to use them in such 
cases. It is also easier to place a 
chain than a solid rod, as less atten- 
tion has- to be given to boring the 
holes. If links are placed in the rod, 
as is sometimes done, this difficulty is 
of course obviated. 
In most cases of chaining and bolt- 
ing the washer and nut are placed on 
the outside of the bark, and often no 
attempt is made to cut the ends of the 
bolts off, allowing them to project for 
>< B 
tv, tVASHER: C, ELASTIC CEMENT. 
