THE DAMAGE TO TREES BY IVY.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."J Sm,—There is a great national loss taking place, which can be easily and inexpensively prevented, and that is the damage done to trees by ivy growing up the trunks, and in consequence checking their growth, and finally suffocating them. A timber merchant of great experience told me that the value of a tree struggling with a growth of ivy is depreciated, for timber pur- poses, by one half. We must all have noticed the great number of trees all over the country that are having their value depreciated by this ivy pest. In one district I was lately in I am not exaggerating when I say that I did not see a single tree that was free from ivy. The loss to the national capital from this cause must be enormous. When I woke up to this fact some years ago, I gave orders to the woodman to cut the ivy stem in two places, wherever he noticed ivy growing up the tree, the result being that now practically all the trees over the estate (two hundred acres of woodland) have clean stems and are free from ivy. The growth of the trees in conse- quence of cutting the ivy has been quite noticeable, and I have been able to obtain top prices for all trees sold. Since this cutting of ivy began, I have sold a considerable number.
I intend to fell every matured tree on my estate that will be of value to the Government contractors, and invest the proceeds in the War Loan.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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