=Supporting Heavy and Diseased Branches.=—A limb requires to be braced or strengthened when from its weight and shape it is likely to get wrenched from the main stem during stormy weather, when the weight of the minor branches and foliage is too great for the strength of the limb, when the wood of the tree is unusually brittle, when trunk or limb is decayed, and when, from accident, the tree has become one-sided and lost its natural appearance. Forked trees often require staying, as also do such as have suddenly become exposed to storms to which they have hitherto been unaccustomed. But probably in the matter of bracing and strengthening, the most important of all trees are those in our public parks and such as are contiguous to or overshadow dwelling-houses. Park trees should receive special attention in the way of making sure that limbs are secure and not likely to cause injury to visitors; while in the case of heavy branches hanging over dwelling-houses these should be carefully and periodically examined and made secure whenever it is found necessary. Should there be any doubt as to whether a limb is insecure and dangerous, a decision should be made in favour of bracing or reducing the weight by pruning. Unwieldy and heavy limbs are most commonly to be found on isolated trees, or such as have had plenty of room for the perfect development of stem and branch. As the loss of one or more of the larger branches often mars the ornamental appearance of a specimen tree, every reasonable means should be employed to prevent such a disfigurement. By reducing the weight of a branch by pruning, or by giving support to any that are heavy and diseased by means of wires, chains or light iron bands and connecting-rods, the trouble may be averted. In all cases the object should be to unite the branches in such a way that they may offer the greatest amount of resistance to the storm, and at the same time be neither conspicuous nor clumsy in appearance owing to the operation.