PARK AND CEMETERY. 
151 
SUMMER CARE OF SHADE TREES 
By Win. W. Colton, in Bulletin of Massachu- 
setts Tree Wardens’ and Foresters’ Association. 
Summer is the ideal time for the prac- 
tice of what is known as “tree surgery.” 
Under the title of tree surgery we include 
the operations of removing dead and su- 
perfluous wood, bracing defective branches, 
the care of minor injuries and the treat- 
ment of cavities. Besides the work that 
would come under the above headings, it 
is sometimes necessary to prune a tree so 
as to shape it for a particular location. 
Other important features of the work that 
should be done at this time are the re- 
moval of old tree guards that the tree has 
outgrown; the placing of new guards, and 
the removal of portions of the sidewalk 
and curb where they are interfering with 
the growth of the tree; the treatment of 
the soil where it is necessary; underdrain- 
age; watering and caring for the general 
health of the tree. 
From July to September, a tree bleeds 
less than at any other time (except in the 
winter, of course), therefore these months 
are the best time to do your pruning in. 
It is easier also to shape a tree in the 
summer as the dead branches are more 
conspicuous when the leaves are on and 
can therefore be more readily removed. 
In removing superfluous wood it is often 
necessary, especially in maple, basswood, 
and other dense grown trees to remove 
some of the interior branches because the 
foliage on these trees often develops be- 
yond the power of the roots to supply it 
with water, especially in long, dry sum- 
mers. As a rule, however, it is best not 
to remove a live limb unless it interferes 
with a better one, or for some other good 
and sufficient reason such as interference 
with traffic, etc. 
Too heavy a pruning must not be made 
in a tree during hot weather as the shade 
afforded by the leaves is necessary to pre- 
vent sun scorching. 
In pruning the tree, care must be taken 
to make the cuts as close to the trunk 
as possible and to see that the resulting 
wound is painted with a good coat of tar, 
shellac or a heavy lead paint. Care must 
also be exercised when removing a large 
branch that two cuts be made so that the 
branch when falling will not tear the bark 
from the trunk of the tree. When a large 
number of branches are to be removed, it 
is better to remove one each year rather 
than to take them all out at once. In cut- 
ting back the top of the tree or the ends 
of the branches the cuts should be made 
just above a small branch or bud as this 
will draw the sap to the wound and help 
to heal it over quickly. 
After properly trimming the trees, at- 
tention should next be given to the proper 
treatment of wounds and cavities. 
Wounds made by horses gnawing 
through the bark or by abrasion from traf- 
fic can best be treated by cutting away all 
decayed material, and treating the wound 
with a good coat) of tar or other substance 
to keep air and moisture away from the 
wound. 
In treating your cavities it is well to re- 
move as much of the dead wood as the 
location of the cavity and the condition of 
the tree seems to warrant, and also to ex-- 
pose a smooth surface of sound wood at 
all points. Next you sterilize the inner 
surface well with an application of creo- 
sote and then apply a coat of tar. If the 
cavity is now in such a shape as to retain 
water or is so large that the tree is weak- 
ened thereby, it should be filled with ce- 
ment. If the cavity does not fall in either 
of the above classes, it is best to cover 
with tin or zinc or to paint with a suf- 
ficiently heavy coat of tar and allow the 
wood to gradually cover the wound with- 
out the use of any filler. 
There are many insects appearing on 
shade trees during the summer which need 
attention, such as the gypsy and brown- 
tail moth, the elm-leaf beetle, tussock 
moth, tent caterpillar, leopard moth, 
spine}'' elm caterpillar, green maple worm, 
larvae of various flies, various saw flies, 
various tree lice, and scale insects. Prac- 
tically every one of our shade trees also 
are attacked by borers which may be 
treated during the summer months when 
the larvae are working in the trees. Most 
of the insects above mentioned can be 
controlled by spraying. For scale and lice, 
a contact poison such as lime sulphur or 
one of the soluble oils should be used in a 
mild form. For the leaf eating insects, as 
the elm-leaf beetle, brown-tail and gypsy, 
tussock moth, etc., a stomach poison such 
as arsenate of lead used in various 
strengths is the best remedy. A spraying 
calendar which will give the quantities of 
the different kinds of poison to use and 
the time to use them for the different in- 
sects can be obtained from the Experi- 
ment Station at Amherst and from most 
of the companies selling poisons and spray- 
ing outfits. 
PARKWAY CARE and MAINTENANCE in INDIANAPOLIS 
The work of road maintenance and re- 
pair in the Indianapolis park system last 
season was unusually heavy owing to the 
ravages of the high water during the 
month of March. The parkways were 
filled with drift and sand and the tennis 
courts, golf courses and general play- 
grounds were greatly damaged. The nur- 
sery which is within the flood area suf- 
fered very much, a large force being nec- 
essary to restore it to the normal condi- 
tion. 
The roadways being largely constructed 
of gravel are sources of constant mainte- 
nance. The road drag, wheel grader and 
steam roller have been used to advantage 
in caring for the surface, crown, and 
grade. An asphaltic oil of 26-28 specific 
gravity has been used as a dust preventive. 
The light oil has given excellent satisfac- 
tion throughout the year on both gravel 
WEST RIVERSIDE DRIVE, INDIANAPOLIS, DURING CONSTRUCTION. 
