Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-14

than had ever before seen in the same
space Of time. These important results
made me endeavor to find something to
mix with the wax, which without destroy
ing its beneficial effects, would cause it
to hold more firmly to the wood. Ac-
cordngly, in the autumn Of the same
year, | dissolved pound ofbeeswax and
a pound of soft turpentine together. The
mixture was well stirred, and then pour
ed into basin, to cool the bottom and
sides of the vessel being first abundantly
creased in order that the cake might be
easily taken out. The next day l re-
moved the beeswax from the gratis, and
by means of chatting dish of Goals and
knife, the cement was spread IN ITS
place, about the thickness of window
glass, and carefully pressed so as to
leave no passage to moisture or air. Be-
veral times in the course of the succeed
ing winter l examined those gratis and
found the mastich unbroken and adhcr-
ing closely to the wood. No accident
occurred to them, and in the following
season the new bark completely covered
the head Of the stock.
II | afterwards made an alteration in the
relative proportion of the two ingredients,
by using two parts of soft turpentine and
one part of beeswax, and l have found
it, in every respect, as eiiectual as the
first method, and there is a saving OF
nearly one third in the cost.
AT the beginning ofMay, 1906, had
two branches of a pear tree sawed OFT
close to the trunk; the cuts were pared
smooth, and formed an even surface with
the body of the tree. The cuts were,
one of them four inches and halt, the
other four inches in diameter. The larg-
est of the two | covered with the cement,
about one tenth of an inch in thickness,
and the smallest left 10 nature. Both
of them being cuts perpendicular to the
horizon, and on line with the bark OF
the tree, and shaved perfectly smooth,
there could be no lodgment Of moisture
upon their surfaces. In that state they
were left three years, but before the ex-
piration of the third growing season, the
wound which had been covered with the
mastich was entirely closed by new bark,
and ball of cement, gradually pushed
out of its place by the advance Of that
new growth, then hung by small thread
of the cement against the body of the
tree. 1t will now be matter Of gratifi-
cation, if not of instruction to the reader,
to examine with me the condition of the
wound left for nature to heal. 1t will be
recollected that this cut was half an inch
in the diameter smaller than the other,
and must now add, that its distance from
the ground was nearly eight feet, in a
southwest exposure, and within an inch
of the height Of the other, which was on
the southeast side Ofthe trunk. found
about one half of the diameter of this ma
ked wound covered with new bark, and
the wood of all the remaining part discol-
ored, and cf blackish hue. On apply
ing the chisel, it proved unsound, and the
rot extended so far beyond the uncover
ed wood, that was obliged, in order to
take off all that was decayed, to cut "a
way the new bark to its full extent on
the sides, and more than an inch beyond
it on the lower part of the wound. Be-
sides, the gangrene had penetrated more
than two inches into the trunk of the tree.
However, Il cleansed thoroughly the cav
ity, and left not a particle that was de-
cayed Ipared, or rather cut, as smooth
ly as l could, this ugly hole, and then
covered it quarter of an inch thick with
the cement. But l had the satisfaction
of seeing this deep and widely spread
wound gradually diminish in size, and af-
forwards beautifully cicatrize at the end
of four years.
In many cases where l have recon-
mended the use of this mastich, and in
several of my own, have inspected the
wood year, and in some instances two
years, after the application of this valua-
bic cemcnt,& Ihave never found it discol-
ored or unsound. In grating, there is,
as believe, no application that promotes
so quick and so thrifty shoot from the
scion as coat of this mixture; because
know of none that so effectually ex-
cludes air and moisture, and that is, at
the same time, 50 congenial to vegetation.
Under its protection, the sap is neither
evaporatcd by the air, or its vegetative
power destroyed by dilution with water,
but it carries on its unseen, mysterious
operations without interruption from these
external causes.
This cement may be applied, with E.
quail effect, to cover the incisions made
in budding trees, which often on the fail
ure of bud occasion a dangerous rot.
Likewise in cases of bruises, the bruised
bark and wood must be cut out and the
cavity must be forthwith covered with
the cement. 1t may happen in very
thin applications of this composition, that
the contraction, by extreme cold in win
: TOR will cause II To crack or fh af In sum-