310 AROUND THE YEAR IN THE GARDEN 



Repairing an Old Wound 



The fixing of an old wound of this sort is sometimes a 

 lengthy job, but unless the limb or tree is ready to collapse 

 it can generally be successfully accomplished. Fortunately 

 the real heart, or the circulation system, is near the outside, 

 so the tree can flourish vigorously with an inner heart of 

 stone. 



One of the most common types of injury is illustrated in 

 an accompanying photograph. Had this limb been sawed off 

 close to the trunk and painted over, the bark itself would 

 probably have closed in over it. The first thing to do in all 

 rotting cavities of this kind is to cut back in every direction 

 to clean, live wood and bark. In order to do this it may be 

 necessary to cut away a good deal of live wood and bark 

 round the mouth of the cavity; or, if the heart of the tree 

 has rotted out too far down to be reached from the opening, 

 it may be necessary to make another opening near the 

 ground. But get out all the dead and partially decayed 

 wood. If it is impossible to clean it all out by any other 

 means a gasoline torch may be held against the inaccessible 

 parts for a few minutes. 



Then give the whole a thorough coating of creosote. 

 Other paints with disinfectant action may be used, but 

 creosote, being both sticky and penetrating, is especially 

 good for this work. To have a perfect job the cavity should 

 be filled to the last crevice and sealed air-tight. As the 

 wood sometimes parts slightly from the filling at the mouth 

 of the cavity a layer of elastic cement may be used to join 

 wood and cement at the opening, but usually a heavy coat 

 of paint will afford all the protection required. 



The filling for the cavity should be a fairly rich mixture 

 of sand and cement. For very large holes a regular 1-2-4 

 mixture will do for the bulk of the work, being finished off 

 with cement and sand, one part of the former to two or 

 three of the latter. If long vertical openings are to be filled 

 a form may be made of stiff roofing paper, greased or soaped 

 on the inside and made to conform to the shape and size 



