296 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
REINFORCING WEAK SHADE TREES 
By Harold J. Neale, City forester, Worcester, Mass., in Bulletin 
of Massachusetts Foresters' an I Tree IVardens’ Association. 
It is an accepted fact that shade trees 
oh pulilic streets increase propertj' 
values. Tliis, of course, is in proportion 
to the size and condition of the trees — 
as a small tree would not increase values 
very greatly, while an old, weakened 
tree would be about in the same class, 
as far as value is concerned. The ques- 
tion arises, is it not possible to make 
these old trees safe and eliminate their 
weaknesses? It is by the older trees that 
people have learned to love and admire 
this part of nature which is brought to 
us on the public highways. They are 
the heritage of generations past and are 
a necessary adjunct to old settlements; 
as in Xew England, where we have old 
colonial mansions with beautiful spread- 
ing elm trees designating their antiquity. 
On private lands these trees, set out 
many years ago, have had a free and 
easy existence and are in many cases 
very sound and free from any weak- 
nesses. The street tree of the same gen- 
eration, however, has had a different 
battle to fight. Elitching horses to a 
ring bolt fastened into the trunk of 
these street trees or by throwing the 
reins around the trunk was not uncom- 
mon and was, of course, an invitation to 
the animal to gnaw and thus injure the 
barl< on the trunk. This was immetli- 
ately follow’ed by the entrance of fungus 
diseases, causing decay and the gradual 
permeation of the mycelium or root 
hairs of the fungus which today leaves 
an ugly scar extending through the 
heart of the tree in many cases. This 
presents a proposition to the city forester 
or tree man as to the proper procedure 
of making the thoroughfare safe for 
pedestrians with the weakened tree or 
trees, as happens in many cases along 
the borders. Shall the old tree be cut 
down and replaced with another smaller 
and insignificant as compared with the 
lieauty and splendor of its predecessor, 
thus sacrificing years of growth and un- 
doul^tedly depreciating property value? 
It is not such a hard proposition to sac- 
rifice a large tree in a newdy established 
section of the city, as the tree will have 
no fond memories for the new residents 
of the section, as they are establishing 
themselves in new quarters, and it is but 
fitting that new street trees could be 
placed for the lieautifying of these high- 
ways, and as the buildings age trees will 
grow and develop in proportion, and in 
future years will mark the period of 
time when the neighborhood was estab- 
lished. and it is hoped that the present 
generation will prize the efforts of the 
tree man by leaving the trunk and re- 
mainder intack and present the tree in 
its perfect condition to our posterity. 
The efforts of our ancestors we must 
guard, and in guarding, it seems only 
proper and fitting that we should pre- 
serve the fruits of their labors, even 
though they be in a weakened condition. 
It is with the aim in view of saving 
the old trees: making them safe, sound 
and healthy is what the arboriculturist of 
today is striving for as much as the 
planting of new trees for future genera- 
tions to enjoy. Bolting insecure limbs, 
aided liy chaining and similar measures 
have been practiced for a number of 
years. In New England we see many 
large elm trees girdled by heavy iron 
bands which were improperly placed. In 
other cases heavy chains have been 
placed around limbs not girdling them 
but causing the bark to die on the side 
coming in contact with the chain, and 
in some cases bark and cambium cover- 
ing the chains and eml.)edding them into 
the heart wood of the limbs. 
The process of bolting, although not 
difficult, requires a certain amount of 
study and care. Mechanical forces must 
be taken itito consideration. The stronger 
of the limbs to be bolted must be used 
for the support and the bolt placed at 
right angles to the side of the weaker 
limb, otherwise the weaker does not re- 
ceive the maximum pulling forces of the 
bolt, to hold it in place. In the case 
of a split tree the forces must be di- 
vided so that each limb is exerting an 
equal leverage on the other. The bolt 
must be placed as high as possible in 
order that it will be able to exert a 
maximum amount of tension with a 
minimum amount of energy. A bolt, 
however, should not be placed high 
enough to allow any swaying of the 
limbs, which would have a twisting 
effect on the l)Olt, as it will in time, 
weaken and break, owing to its inelas- 
ticity. In case this is necessary the bolt 
should be placed low and a chain or 
cable placed higher. The size of the 
bolt is also an important factor, and the 
growth of the limbs with their increas- 
ing weight must be considered.- The 
placing of a l)Olt in a tree will not, in 
all cases, induce stronger growth to take 
place in the weakened place and is 
necessarily a permanent factor in hold- 
ing the tree together, while in others a 
bolt may l)e placed for a precautionary 
purpose, and as the tree grows it 
strengthens the weak place itself, but 
the bolt is always a reserve force. In 
boring the hole it is necessary to 
countersink through the bark and suffi- 
ciently into the wood to allow for the 
washer and head of the bolt or nut to 
be entirely beneath the cambium or liv- 
ing tissue. It should be disinfected and 
the washer and head or nut embedded 
in tar or ^aint to keep out moisture. 
The space around the nut can then be 
filled with elastic cement, allowing the 
cambium and bark to cover the area in 
time. The bark should be cut away 
slightly in a 0 shape to allow proper 
healing without rotting of the bark as 
will follow if left rounded. This is the 
same process as is practiced in all scien- 
tific cavity work. The washers must 
never be placed against the bark as 
growth will immediately cease at the 
point of contact and decay will com- 
mence, which in time will leave the 
washer free and allow the split to open. 
Bolting is many times practiced unneces- 
sarily, but if properly placed, the bolt 
becomes unnoticed in time and is al- 
ways furnishing an “ounce of preven- 
tion.’’ 
In cases where a bolt is not sufficient 
to hold the limbs it is best to chain or 
cable them. This allows for any neces- 
sar\' swaying. The chain or cable is 
held by eye bolts which are placed in 
the same manner as the bolts, with nuts 
embedded and the pulling forces at right 
angles to the supported limbs. The 
threads on the bolts are made longer 
than necessary to allow for taking up 
the slack and are cut off when the chain 
is in its final position. A set of strong 
blocks or a lineman’s “come-along’’ are 
a great help in drawing the limbs to- 
gether as they can be placed much 
farther out on the branches and there- 
fore exert a greater influence with less 
energy. 
During the past few years different 
methods of chaining and bolting have 
been tried and the use of wire rope cable 
has proven very satisfactory. Its break- 
ing strength is much above that of the 
same size chain, and while the chain is 
only as strong as its weakest link, a wire 
rope cable is not weak in any unit if 
properR" made and tested. It is pliable, 
easily established and practically un- 
noticeable, especially when the tree is 
in full foliage. This wire rope cable is 
fastened by clamps or in some cases by 
tying or splicing. It is very essential 
that the wire rope be of sufficient size to 
hold the load that is placed on it and of 
more importance that eye bolts be 
strong enough, especially in the eye, 
which are made by blacksmiths in many 
cases, who do not pay proper attention 
to the temperature of the iron when it is 
made and thus it should always be sub- 
jected to a test that will insure its being 
equal to the strength of the cable and 
