272 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL, SOCIETY. 



But as a further safeguard to the reinforcement, and to further guard 

 against the possibility of water getting in between the wood and cement, 

 a good coat of paint was applied to the outside of the wound as soon as the 

 cement was dry enough to let the paint stick. All of the wounds that 

 were treated were painted at the finish, but some of them were covered 

 with sheet zinc or lead. Zinc was used mostly over the cement fillings, 

 as it could be easily cut the shape of the filling, and was then tacked 

 down tightly along its margin, with big-headed brads set about a quarter 

 of an inch apart all around. But in doing this due allowance was made 

 for freedom to sway in the wind. The zinc was put on in much the same 

 manner as shingles on a house. Short strips were used, and lapped over 

 each other for an inch or so.. Where these laps were made, only the un- 

 der strip was tacked. 



COVERING THE WOUNDS. 



The bolts that were put through the trees were (jounter sunk on both 

 sides, and then covered with sheet lead, or in some cases with zinc. The 

 lead was considered better, as sometimes the shell of the tree would be 

 so thin the bolt could not be counter sunk deep enough to let the bolt be 

 below the inner bark line. Here the sheet lead was used, because it 

 could be pounded inta shape over the nut, and be made to fit down snug 

 and tight. Then it was tacked tight all around the edge, just as was the 

 zinc. 



Another use to which this sheet zinc was put, and one which could 

 find wide application in all of the orchards of the country, is that of cov- 

 ering up large wounds where big limbs have been cut off. These Davey 

 experts put a little cover of zinc over every wound that is two inches or 

 more in diameter. These zinc covers are tacked down carefully all 

 around the edge and then thoroughly painted. When this zinc cover is 

 of such size that it covers practically the entire surface of the wound, 

 but still leaves a little ring just inside the inner surface of the bark, it 

 makes a waterproof cover that effectually protects the wood from any 

 possibility of decay. But if the zinc cover laps over the bark, or is not 

 tacked down tight, and then reinforced with paint, it is worse than no 

 cover, as it will let water enter as the zinc is lifted by the healing callus, 

 and conserves it for the fungi of decay. 



CHAIN THE LIMBS TOGETHER. 



The question will arise in the minds of many as to how effectual the 

 bolts mentioned above will serve in keeping trees from splitting or break- 

 ing, especially when the limbs are long and heavy above the point at 

 which the bolts are placed. It is very true that there is every possibility 

 for the limbs to break off above the bolts, and even if they do not break, 

 they can sway sufficiently in the summer storms to wrench them away 

 from the cement filling, and let the spore of decay find entrance again. 

 But John Davey thought this all out as he was perfecting his process of 



