CHAPTER XIX 



WOUNDS ON TREES 



WHERE these are quite small they usually heal readily 

 enough without causing trouble other than the possible 

 appearance of burr growths, as discussed elsewhere. If mode- 

 rately large, a touch of tar or a wash over with permanganate 

 of potash is advisable to obviate the chance of the tree being 

 attacked by fungoid diseases. Large wounds are frequently 

 observed, especially near roadsides, where the passing coolies, 

 out of pure devilment, often give trees a slash with their parangs. 

 At other times the wheels of passing carts graze trees and some- 

 times do serious damage. 



Wounds, and large wounds too, are sometimes made inten- 

 tionally, when large developments of burr growths have to be 

 cut out in order to restore the trunks of trees to a condition in 

 which it would be possible to tap them by ordinary methods. 

 Such large wounds would be very slow of healing if they 

 healed at all if left to themselves, and in such cases the risks 

 of fungal disease would be very grave indeed. To reduce these 

 risks, and to assist Nature in her work of healing, planters fre- 

 quently poultice over the wounds. 



The following is a good mixture to use when applying such 

 a protective covering: 



2 lb. sulphur. 



4 lb. unslaked lime. 



7 lb. cow-dung. 



These should be well mixed up and boiled together with just 

 sufficient water to enable them to form a thick paste. Before 

 applying the mixture to the tree it is well to wash over the 

 wounds with a solution of permanganate of potash, one of the 

 cheapest, most harmless, most easily handled, and yet at the 



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