102 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



of the leaves may usually be controlled 

 by proper spraying with a good fungi- 

 cide, such as Bordeaux mixture. Fungi 

 affecting the wood usually gain lodgment 

 in wounds. They may be excluded by 

 proper care, and when present may be 

 checked by tree surgery methods. To 

 successfully combat tree pests of any 

 description requires special methods 

 adapted to each particiilar pest. De- 

 tailed information should be obtained 

 from city, state or national authorities. 

 The American Forestry Association will 

 refer inquiries on these subjects to the 

 proper officials, on request. 



Tree surgery consists in cutting out 

 the diseased parts of trees and filling 

 the cavities with cement so that they 

 are water-proof. All decaying, dis- 

 colored, water-soaked wood should be 

 removed, with gouge, chisel and mallet, 

 until only sound, uninfected wood is 

 exposed. The bottom of the cavity 

 should be shaped so that if water were 

 thrown in the cavity it would promptly 

 run out. The top and bottom of the 

 cavity should be V-shapcd rather than 

 square or rounded, as this aids proper 

 healing. The interior of the cavity 

 shoiild be sterilized by thorough painting 

 with coal-tar creosote, followed by a 

 heavy coating of coal tar. Fill the 

 cavity with mortar made of one part 

 cement to three (or less) parts sharp 

 sand, and bring the filling to a smooth, 

 water-tight finish, exactly even with the 

 cambium (growing layer of the tree). 

 Before filling large cavities, flat-headed 

 wire nails 2}/2 to 3 inches long are driven 

 about half their length into the interior, 

 to hold the cement. The cement is 

 reinforced with iron rods and cross 

 bolts. The filling is then built up in 

 blocks of 8 to 12 inches, each block 

 being separated by sheets of heavy tar 

 paper. Large solid fillings of cement 

 are apt to be cracked when the tree 

 sways in the wind. When it is not 

 advisable to go to the expense of filling, 

 much good is done by treating the 

 cavity as recommended above, following 



with an extra coating of tar. Split 

 crotches should have all decayed wood 

 removed from the split, and creosote 

 and tar applied. Bring the limbs back 

 to their proper position, using rope and 

 tackle if necessary, and hold them in 

 place by means of bolts through each 

 limb, connected by chains. Counter- 

 sink the head of the bolt. Thoroughly 

 coat with tar the cuts made for the bolt, 

 and the edges of the crack. Cavity 

 filling is advisable only when the tree 

 is a highly valued specimen. Old, 

 unsightly cripples and trees of poor 

 species are much better taken down 

 and replaced with new trees of desirable 

 kinds. The need of tree surgery at a 

 future time will be very largely removed 

 by promptly attending to the fresh 

 injuries of today. 



Beware oj fake tree doctors. — There are 

 reliable tree surgeons, and many who 

 are not. The owner should investigate 

 before employing outsiders to repair 

 his trees. If the owner chooses to do 

 the work, it is mainly a matter of 

 common sense to make needed repairs. 

 However, if it is desirable to employ an 

 expert to do the work, the owner should 

 investigate his standing before employ- 

 ing him, and should closely superintend 

 the work to see that it comes up to the 

 specifications of the written contract. 



Coordination of effort is necessary in 

 any commtmity, large or small, to 

 obtain the greatest beauty and benefit 

 from shade trees. In this way it is 

 possible to secure uniformity in the 

 use of species, proper pruning, and 

 efficient control of insect and fungus 

 invasions. A number of States have 

 laws governing the planting of street 

 and roadside trees. If there is no 

 vShade Tree Commission or City Forester 

 systematically developing the tree w^el- 

 fare of your community, interest your- 

 self in forming a local forestry improve- 

 ment association. If such an organ- 

 ization exists, do all you can to make 

 this work successful by fulh^ cooper- 

 ating with it. 



To Distribute 1,000,000 Trees 



The State School of Forestry at Bottineau, North Dakota, announces that it will have one 

 millon trees for distribution to the citizens of the state during 1915. 



