CHAPTER XVI. 
REPAIR OF SHADE TREES 
REE repair is comparable with both surgery and 
1 dentistry. For the amputation of limbs the use of 
the surgical knife is required; for mending splits in trunks 
or frame, the treatment is akin to the application of the 
surgeon’s brace; and for the prevention of further damage, 
due to decay, the human parallel is found in the filling of 
a tooth. 
In minor operations no particular technical skill or 
experience is necessary, but in the more elaborate repairs 
the work should be done whenever possible by one who 
has high technical skill, knowledge and experience. 
Just here let emphasis be placed on the importance of 
selecting the right man for intricate operations. None of 
us would entrust our families to the care of the casual 
stranger, who might happen along and represent himself 
as combined surgeon, dentist and mender of clocks and 
shoes. For the curing of human ills and the repair of 
broken bones we seek the best skill obtainable. Similar 
care should be exercised in the matter of helping badly 
damaged trees. 
This warning is founded on the widespread disaster 
resulting from the work of irresponsible, unscrupulous, or 
unreliable persons calling themselves tree surgeons. These 
are so numerous and their methods so damaging, that every 
tree owner or custodian should be on the alert to prevent 
his trees from falling into the hands of such “tree 
butchers.” The employment of a man who cannot show 
proper credentials or references, or whose skill is not 
known is equivalent to paying out money for the destruc- 
