Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-04-19

ooo' Nahu VIC nave tTIeu all KINDS we have
ever heard of we have ever used is COM
mon tar made thick, when warm, with brick
dust procured by grinding to powder soft
brick this, when kept in a small kettle,
can easily be applied when warm, with a
common painters brush. For small trees
or small limbs, common grating wax will
answer all purposes; but from large limbs,
IL VIII peel Oft the first season.
II 1t is necessary to graft old trees, where
new tops are formed from new shoots, and
the old top removed, care must be used not
to do it too soon if SO the growth is SO sud-
denly checked that the new wood is des-
troyed. A sufficient number of new shoots,
or suckers, to form new top, should be re-
tanned, and suffered in all cases, to grow
till one inch or more in diameter at the bot
tom, and then only part Of the top remov-
ed in one season.
Much has been said of cutting out all old
or dead wood in bodies of trees, quite to the
growing, and applying compositions. This
is all well, but requires more time and skill
ful labor than most men can spare for the
purpose, and we shall not give an extended
account of it, as if the directions here given
for draining, manuring, cuhiUafing and
pruning are faithfully followed, we will war
rant every old tree whose top is filed with
thrifty shoots, though half its body is gone,
if propped up with posts, to sustain it, to
produce in five years, more apples than any
nursery tree can be made to do in fifteen;
in fact, it will produce as fair fruit, and be
as well filled, as in its best days.
The late Mr.. Robert Manning of Salem,
gives the following directions for preventing,
and healing decay, or rot in old trees:
Take one pound of pitch, one pound Of
resin, half pound bees-wax, quarter pound
lard, quarter pound turpentine, melted and
mixed; spread evenly and thin, with
brush upon soft kentish cap paper or strips
of cotton cloth. This compound will resist
the force of washing rains, frost, drying
winds, and the influence of changeable
atmosphere.
Now prepare the tree for its application,
by cutting away all the dead, decaycd and
injured parts, till you come to sound wood,
leaving the surface very smooth, and round
ing off the edges of the bark with sharp
drawing knife; then lay the plaster over
the part cut away. In hollows of trees, you
must scoop out all the rotten, loose, and
dead parts, till you come to the sound wood,
and then apply the composition as directed"
The first writer who has given full direc-
tons for treatment of old decaying trees,
was Mr. VIM Forsyth He was so sue
cessful in treating old trees, by certain
composition, which he kept secret, that
the British Government paid him $4,000,
about $40, 900, to make it public, which he
did in 1871, as follows:
"Take one bushel of fresh cow-dung,
half bushel of lime rubbish of old build
ings, (that from the ceilings of rooms is
/, preferable,) half bushel of wood ashes,
and sixteenth part of bushe of pit OF
f river sand: The three last articles are to
: be sfted fine before they are mixed then
} work them well together with a spade, and
afterwards with wooden beater, until the
| stuff is very smooth, like fine plaster used
for the ceilings of rooms.
, The composition being thus made, care
must be taken to prepare the tree properly
tor its application, by cutting away all the
dead, decayed and injured parts, till you
come to the fresh sound wood, leaving the
: surface of the wood very smooth, and roun-
ding off the edges of the bark with draw
: ing-knite, or other instrument perfectly
, smooth, which must be particularly attend
ed to; then lay on the plaster about one
where the wood or bark has been cut away,
: finishing off the edges as thin as possible
, Then take quantity of dry powder Of
wood-ashes mixed with sixth part of the
same quantity of the ashes of burnt bones
put it into tin box, with holes in the top,
and shake the powder on the surface of the
plaster, till the whole is covered over with
s it, letting it remain for half an hour, to abb
sorb the moisture; then apply more powder,
3 rubbing it on gently with the hand, and re-
p, peating the application of the powder till
: the whole plaster becomes dry smooth
: surface.
}, All trees cut down near the ground
e should have the surface made quite smooth,
! rounding it off in small degree, as before
, mentioned; and the dry powder directed to
d be used afterwards should have an equal
, quantity of powder of aabaster mixed with
: it, in order the better to resist the dripping
of trees and heavy rains.
y If any of the composition be left for a
h future occasion, it should be kept in a tub
d or other vessel, and urine of any kind pour
e ed on it, SO as to cover the surface; other
n wise the atmospher. will greatly hurt the
IS efficacy of the application.
e Where lime rubbish ofolG buildings can
e not be easily got, take powdered chalk, o
IS common lime, after having been Stacked
e month at least.
As the growth of the tree will gradual!
> affect the plaster, by raising up its edge
= next the bark, care should be taken, wher'
&c &c that happens, to rub it on with the hnge
IL when occasion may require, (Which is bes
\, done when moistened by rain,) that thu
"a plaster may be kept whole TO prevent tn
ie air and wet from penetrating into the wood.
o. This has since been known as Forsyth
a Composition" and is valuable for fillini
'p hollows in all old trees and other purposes
of Northern Fruit Caltmist
If mi. remark true and have daubt Of ii, II
inerences for thousands OF farmersIn We