PARK AND CEMETERY. 
109 
Picture 6. Grouting Being Picture 7. Grouting in Place Picture 8. Applying the Picture 9. The Finished Job. 
Rammed into Cavity. and Staples Driven In. Facing; Canvas Strips in Place. 
were driven into the sides of the cav- 
ity to act as a holder for the concrete. 
In order to strengthen the support of 
the tree, as by the cutting away of 
the tissue the support of the tree is 
greatly weakened, one-half inch iron 
rods were firmly imbedded into the 
sides of the cavity. A rod was first 
run vertically the entire length of the 
cavity and then lateral and diagonal 
rods are placed and all rods then firm- 
ly bound together at points of inter- 
section with wire. (Picture 4.) 
Beginning at the bottom of the cav- 
ity a wire facing was constructed, 
number sixteen galvanized wire being 
used. Staples driven into the sides of 
the cavity an inch or so away from 
the exposed cambium, hold the wire 
in place and by interlacing and pull- 
ing the wire taut a very firm facing 
was made. The wire facing was con- 
structed up to a point about one foot 
from the top of the cavity. This act- 
ed as a holder for the cement and 
also as a binder for the grouting with 
the facing. (Picture 5.) 
A grouting composed of one part 
Portland cement, two parts one-half 
inch blue stone, and three parts of 
sand, thoroughly mixed and sufficient- 
ly wet to assure lose adhesion, was 
then poured into the cavity over the 
top of the facing of wire, and with a 
rammer (Picture 6) was rammed in- 
to the cavity. As the cavity filled the 
wire facing was completed. A very 
rough surface was thus made which 
will tightly hold the facing when ap- 
plied. A row of staples one-half inch 
apart was then driven about half way 
in, along the entire edge of the cavity 
just outside of the edge of the wire 
facing. These acted as binder and 
holder for the facing (Picture 7). The 
grouting was allowed to remain twen- 
ty-four hours to allow for setting be- 
fore the facing was applied. 
The facing was composed of one 
part Portland Cement, with two parts 
of fine sand, sufficient lamp black be- 
ing added to bring the mixture nearer 
the color of the bark of the tree, 
these were thoroughly mixed togeth- 
er and sufficiently wet to allow of be- 
ing trowelled into place and 
smoothed. This was then applied 
over the grouting, firmly pressed in- 
to the roughness of the face of the 
grouting and trowelled to a smooth 
finish. • The facing was very carefully 
cut away from the exposed cambium 
layer. It was placed up to the cam- 
bium but did not cover it at any 
place. If cambium was covered it 
would check any growth. The fac- 
ing was from one inch to three inch- 
es in thickness. The variance was 
caused by attempting as much as pos- 
sible to follow the natural outlines of 
the tree. To prevent the falling out 
of the facing before setting took place 
canvas strips about six inches wide 
were placed over the facing as soon 
as it was smoothed to a finish, and 
were tacked at each end into the tree. 
These were allowed to remain until 
the facing had hardened and thor- 
oughly set. (Picture 8.) 
At present in place of a large rot- 
ting cavity that was yearly eating into 
the vitals of the tree and weakening 
it, we have an absolute checking of 
further decay and a firm support es- 
tablished for the rejuvenated tree. 
(Picture 9.) 
The cambium layer will in time 
grow entirely over the concrete and 
cover it with bark. This of course 
will take some years. The starting 
of this growing over of the cambium 
was perceptible after a few weeks 
from the time the work was com- 
pleted. 
And thus one more tree was saved 
by the Shade Tree Commission, and 
one more lover of shade trees on our 
streets comforted for during the re- 
mainder of her life she will have the 
pleasure and benefit from this Norway 
Maple in front of her residence. 
Others will be inspired to look after 
their trees more carefully and to call 
upon the Commission to assist them. 
And still there are those who doubt 
and ask the old question, “What good 
can a Shade Tree Commission in a 
large city do?” 
“ . each street a park 
Made green and trimmed with trees, 
see how 
Devotion gives each house a bough 
Or branch ” 
