| HOUSE AND GARDEN 
November, 1912 
] 
Lawn trees may be of various kinds; in the foreground, a leafy trunk of an elm; at the 
extreme right is a Norway maple, very satisfactory trees for general use 
stress cannot be laid upon this point, because even a few 
minutes exposure may injure the fibrous roots which are the 
chief feeders of the tree. Where planting takes place on an ex¬ 
tensive scale it is very common to see several trees lying on the 
ground with roots exposed, waiting to be planted. Many failures 
in planting can be traced to this bit of neglect. Only one tree 
should be handled at one time and the roots of that tree covered 
with burlap while waiting its turn. 
Before placing a tree in the pit, the roots should be examined, 
and all bruised roots cut off smoothly and the ends covered with 
coal tar. This will prevent root-rot and stimulate the formation 
of new fibrous rootlets. The tree should then be set in the hole at 
the same depth as it stood in the nursery. The roots should be 
carefully spread out and mellow soil 
worked in lightly with the fingers ||Hj 
among the fine rootlets. Every root * ■[ 
fibre is thus brought in contact with T n 
the rich soil. More good soil should — . wm 
then be filled in (in layers) and firmly 
should remain loose, so that it may He 
act as a mulch or as an absorbent of ' 
moisture. All watering should be <’ >*# (5 
deferred until the tree is planted and VvAu': H| 
the last layer of soil put on. The Kj 
crown of the tree should be slightly try. i?' 
trimmed in order to equalize the loss i 
of roots by a corresponding decrease f |||||||; ^H 
in leaf surface. On the lawn, the j •. AVu., HBk 
planting is then completed, but on the 
street the tree should be fastened to ■pPKyHSBHHjMM 
a stake and a guard made of wire net- 
ting of small mesh placed around it. Hr 
The fall is the time when pruning p§lB% ' vHHkA. ' 
can be done to best advantage. The 
tree is no longer active; the leaves pApy . -J 
are no longer necessary to the tree 
and yet because they still adhere to its 
branches, they aid the pruner in dis¬ 
When trees are set out note the nursery mark, and set 
to the same depth. Prune all bruised roots 
tinguishing between the dead and the live wood. 
The removal of limbs from trees must be done 
sparingly and judiciously. In fact, the tree that 
has been trained and cared for in its youth will 
need but little attention later. Dead and broken 
branches carry decay and injurious insects into 
the trunk of the tree and are dangerous and 
unsightly. They should therefore be removed 
as soon as observed regardless of the pruning 
season. But the usual light pruning, such as 
the removal of low branches and the shortening 
of overgrown ones, can best be done in the fall. 
The main point to bear in mind in the process 
of pruning is to cut the branch as close as pos¬ 
sible and parallel with the limb from which it 
is removed. The resulting wound should then 
be covered with coal tar. 
Pruning work should start at the top of a 
tree and work down towards the ground. Very 
heavy limbs should be cut in portions or an 
“undercut” made in order to prevent ripping 
of the bark along the main trunk when the limb 
is about to fall. If one is interested in more 
detailed information on the subject I would 
refer him to a little book on “Pruning,” by 
DesCars or to Professor Bailey’s writings on 
the subject. 
It is absolutely essential to cover all wounds 
caused by pruning or by accident, with coal tar. The reason 
for this treatment lies in the fact that untreated wounds form 
cracks and invite decay and insects. Coal tar not only protects 
the wound but also has an antiseptic effect. Coal tar is by far 
preferable to paint and other substances for covering the wound. 
The tar penetrates the exposed wood while paint only forms a 
covering which may peel in course of time and which will later 
protrude from the cut, thus forming between the paint and the 
wood a suitable place for the development of insects and fungi. 
Cavities resulting from the falling out of some old neglected 
stub or dead limb or through an untreated and improperly made 
cut or from some old neglected horse-bitten wound are common 
wherever trees are found. There is a strong tendency at present 
to fill these cavities with cement indis¬ 
criminately. It is particularly true of 
trees on the streets because there the 
trees are frequently of poor species 
H and the cavities so neglected that the 
If absolute elimination of diseased wood 
|| is utterly impossible. There, the de¬ 
cay would keep on developing after 
treatment with the same rapidity as 
before. Cavity filling is justifiable 
is by far the safest and most prac¬ 
ticable tool. 
