PARK AND 
CEMETERY. 
224 
Hum of the fungi which might be still remaining in 
the wood near the chiselled surface. Probably forma- 
lin at the rate of two to four parts of formalin to loo 
parts of water, as well as many other substances, can 
be used to advantage, but the use of such disinfect- 
ants on trees is entirely in an experimental stage, and 
their value as antiseptics is problematical. 
There is a tendency for Portland cement to con- 
tract from wood after drying, which tends to leave a 
space between the cement and wood, which might in 
time induce further decay. This could undoubtedly 
be remedied by the use of a thick coat of paint or tar, 
or even elastic cement, covering the surface of the 
wood of the cavity before cementing. There are, 
however, patent cements on the market, like aluminite, 
etc., which adhere firmly to wood and do not crack, 
and which may be used to much greater advantage ' 
than Portland cement. 
One of the disadvantages connected with the use 
of Portland cement is the tendency for it to crack 
on the surface when long cavities are filled, owing 
to the swaying to and fro of the tree caused by winds. 
Such cracks are likely to furnish a source for the in- 
troduction of fungi, especially if these cracks extend 
to the wood. On this account it may be found de- 
sirable to paint the surface of the cement or cover 
it with some elastic substance that will cover these 
cracks and render them impervious to the effect of air, 
water and fungi. 
The writer has experimented with a number of 
cements and has found that what is termed elastic 
cement, employed by slaters, works well for the pur- 
pose of covering the surface, as does also a cement 
made out of oil, resin, and beeswax. The latter can 
be put on while warm, and when cooled it should be 
sufficiently solid not to run too much on a warm 
summer day, but if it flowed very slightly it would 
have a tendency to fill up any cracks which would hap- 
pen to be in the surface of the cement, thus prevent- 
ing infection. Probably a thick coat of tar or pitch 
would prove effectual for this purpose. 
The series of illustrations accompanying this ar- 
ticle shows the different stages in filling the cavity of a 
tree. The tree in question is a red maple, which, how- 
ever, was not of especial value. It is located on the 
Massachusetts Agricultural College grounds, and was 
filled for the purpose of furnishing an example of 
this type of work. The cavity is a large one and 
extends within two or three inches of the outer surface 
of the tree. It is broader in the middle than at the 
surface, hence the cement is wedged in and cannot 
work out from any cause. Before the same was put 
in, nails were driven into the wood about two inches 
in from the surface for the purpose of holding the 
cement in place. The cavity also. extends higher in 
the trunk than represented in the illustrations. This 
is always advisable, since it prevents the water that 
comes down from the bark of the tree in a rain-storm 
from working in at the back of the cement. 
The cavity, after being pretty thoroughly cleaned 
out, was treated with creosote, after which it was 
filled with Portland cement, gravel and sand at the 
rate of one part of cement to three of gravel and sand. 
This is put on rather dry and tamped. As will be 
noted in the illustration, boards are placed to hold up 
the cement while it is being tamped. After the cement 
and gravel or grouting is in, the surface is re-coated 
with cement at the rate of one part of cement to two 
of sand. This is also put on dry and thoroughly 
trowelled until it is smooth. The last coat should not 
extend beyond the bark; in fact it should be flush 
with the outer surface of the wood, or cambium, so 
that the healing tissue or callous that is formed will 
closely adhere to the cement. There is always a ten- 
dency for Portland cement to shrink away from the 
edges of the tree. This is likely to allow water, air 
and pathogenic organisms to gather in around the 
cement and cause trouble. This can be obviated by 
painting the surface of the cement, as mentioned 
above ; or a groove could be left in the cement near 
the edge of the wood, to be later filled with some elas- 
tic substance, like elastic cement, which would com- 
pletely seal the cracks. 
In some cases of tree filling there has been an at- 
tempt to sculpture the cement to imitate the bark. 
This we consider an undesirable feature, since in 
healing over as close a contact would not be obtained 
as if the cement were smooth. 
In the eastern states there are some excellent ex- 
amples of tree filling now to be observed. Especially 
fine examples of tree surgery on a large scale may be 
seen on the Cheney estate. South Manchester, Con- 
necticut. There are at present a number of reliable 
firms engaged in caring for trees. 
SOD IN THE SHRUBBERY 
Anyone who has had in charge the adorning of a 
small piece of ground, or a large one either, for 
that matter, is tempted to wonder if an all-wise 
Providence did not invent those most beautiful and 
plastic things, deciduous shrubs, for his especial use 
and consolation. They have as many advantages and 
as few drawbacks as could be imagined in one form 
of vegetation. They are neither trees nor herbs, with 
many of the advantages of both. They are endlessly 
various in leafage, habit, texture and blossom. They 
are riotously vigorous and munificently floriferous. 
They can be handled so as to be in scale with a lot 
of twenty feet or twenty acres. There is not one that 
grows wild or tame, nurserymen’s variety or native 
species, erratic from the ancient gardening civilization 
of China or Japan or cut out ruthlessly and condemned 
contemptuously as “brush” in an American clearing, 
for which a fitting place and a decorative use canuor 
