AN APPLE ORCHARD SURVEY OF WAYNE COUNTY, NEW YORK. 283 



unpainted. The hole is now nearly closed, but it is too late, as will be 

 seen by Fig. 51, which shows the inside of the same tree. There is only 

 a few inches of undecayed wood on the outside of the trunk. The white 

 mould (mycelium) all through the trunk shows how badly decayed the 

 tree is. The tree was a very thrifty one, and was apparently unaffected, 

 but the rotted trunk was no longer strong enough to support it (Fig. 52). 

 Paint should be used on the larger wounds. Only a very few orchards 

 were seen where paint was used. Painting the wounds should become 



FIG. 52. The rotten trunk resulted in the breaking of the tree. (See Figs. 50-5*-) 



an accepted practice. The paint does not help to heal the wounds, nor 

 does it hinder healing, as some have supposed. It is to prevent the wood- 

 rot fungi from getting a foothold. It acts as a partial seal till the tree 

 can protect the wound in its own way by healing over the place. It has 

 a similar effect as it has on farm machinery. It protects from weather and 

 prevents fungi and bacteria from causing decay. The cost of painting all 

 the wounds above two inches in diameter is not great. If this is done, 

 and if the larger ones are repainted every year, the increased longevity of 

 the tree will amply repay the cost. One good apple-tree will pay for 



