Cabling stems together

Here is a large historically-important tree with three codominant stems with inclusions in the unions. This structure is weak and very susceptable to falling apart (below left). Stems are secured with a cabling system (cables are the 12 straight dark lines above). Rods were not appropriate because of the extensive decay in the unions (below right).

Three large codominant stems with inclusions represent a very weak form.

Decay in the unions reduces strength.