54 



life to be recognized. There are also tliousands of forms of fungous 

 diseases. 



Mr. Bartlett then described methods of treating various forms of 

 disease and injury to trees by applications of hot paraffine, paint, tar, 

 asphalt and other protectives, the preparation and treatment of cavi- 

 ties, the bracing of weakened trees, emphasizing that trees often suffer 

 from lack of plant food and it may be. necessary to bring them back to 

 a good state of nutrition before they will respond well to the methods 

 of tree surgery. 



Mr. Bartlett also described a new method of treatment called 

 "Heal-Collar" by which the edge of a cavity is treated by surgeon's 

 plaster, waterproofing, roofing paper and a backing of elastic cement, 

 which prevents the bark from drying out and stimulates new tissues 

 to a degree never before known. Cement is no longer the material of 

 choice for the filling of most cavities. Flexible, light Magnesite fill- 

 ings are preferable. Power driven burs and chisels are now being 

 used in cavity excavations and new and improved methods are con- 

 stantly being introduced. 



Mr. George W. Pierce read a paper on "Nut Growing on the 

 Pacific Coast." 



After speaking of the wonderful natural productiveness of that 

 region and its great development, he gave a historical review of nut 

 culture there, instancing the black walnut as of little commercial im- 

 portance, the English walnut as the nut of most general distribution 

 and greatest importance, with a present production of 35,000 tons, 

 and the almond as second in importance with a present production of 

 10,000 tons. The almond is a tree requiring the greatest care in the 

 selection of varieties, in soil and in climatic conditions. More mistakes 

 are made m the planting of the almond than with any other nut tree. 

 Excessive moisture is fatal. Draughts of cold air and late spring 

 frosts are injurious. Interplanting of varieties is necessary for good 

 pollination. About 1875 "Sir. A. T. Hatch of Suisun brought out a 

 number of distinct and highly improved varieties, the chief ones being 

 the Nonpareil, tlie I X L and the Ne Plus Ultra. These are the best 

 table varieties in California if not in the world. The almond comes 

 into bearing in from three to four years from time of planting. Trees 

 should not be planted less than 25 feet apart and thirty feet is better. 



