Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-05-20
TREE MnRnER

|
the public on propagating, planting, pruning,
preserving and improving trees for use and Or
nament, and by way of a change we intend
now to offer few observations on the art of
killing trees. This must be a very useful art,
because it is extensively practiced and as
people like to do as their neighbors, no doubt
we snail be counted among the number of our
nations patriots if we endeavor to explain
few OF the processes by which trees are COM
monty crippled, rendered unfruitfuI, ugly,
unhealthy, or killed outright.
| We advise, then, that when trees. are pur.
chased, it should be as late as possible in the
| planting season. By this method the purcha-
ser will make pretty sure of obtaining the
weakest and most ugly of the stock, left in the
nursery after all the foolish people who like
| to keep their trees alive have had their pick
when the trees arrive home, lay them any
where. and be sure their roots are not covered
The more the air, frost, and sunshine act on
their roots, the better. When they are plan.
ted, take care to have the ground in a wet.
pasty condition do not prune them let all
the bruised and jagged parts of the roots re-
main; plant them very deep, do not tread
them firm, and take care not to stake them.
They will certainly begin to grow rather
late in the spring, and endeavor to overcome
the various impediments to their weIl-doing
which have been imposed upon them by the
first conditions. This lengthens out the pro-
cess of killing, and increases the interest of
the task. Dig about their roots frequently all
the summer. If they are in the kitchen gar
den, crop as near to them as possible. You
may as well have plenty of cabbages and eau
lihowers off the same ground as the apple and
pear trees occupy, and so let there be no scru-
pies about using the spade where their roots
run, and even quite close to their stems, as
the more you destroy their surface fbers the
better. 1t will not kill them quickly, but on
iy cause them to send down tap roots into the
cold subsoil, and this will favor disease, which
increases the fun. If they are in the border
next the grassplot, you have fine opportuni-
ty to practice little fortune. Grow climbers
of some sort at the root of every tree-sweet
peas will do very we'll, o: honey suckle, con-
volvus, clematis. may be used /; and to train
them up the stems use wall nails, and nail ND
the trailing plants with shreds. just as if they
were growing on a wall. This will make plen-
ty OF wounds in the bark, and cause canker
nicely. Then, If any of your rife sh ooting
friends want practice, let them aim at the
stems of the trees, and see how many bullets
they can plant in the wood and if YOU want
to try one of Saynor's knives at any time,
scoop out pieces of wood from the stems. If
branch grows where You do not want il, snap
1T off; if there is any fruit produced, knock it
OIL with heavy stick-this will bruise the
fruit and the trees at the same time and serve
as healthy exercise.
One very effectual way of killing is largely
practiced in suburban gardans. 1t is slow and
sure, and so pays well, because it affords las
ting amusement. 1t consists in periodically |
raising the level of the soil about the trees
say, putting on six inches of loan this year |
to raise the level of bed or border where |
trees are planted. Next year. another six in |
ches OF old mortar, or sand or coal ashes |
Perhaps the next year high bank for ferns, |
and so on, TO remove the roots of the trees |
further and further from the atmosphere and |
sunshine. This causes gouty swellings in the |
branches. then canker, then barrenness. By |
and by. some of the branches die, the stem |
dies on one side, more branches perish, and |
the head of the tree is prettily sprinkled with
dead spray and feeble shoots that do not grow
at all. Now, ring it near the bottom, and |
make the ring complete all round, and at least |
four inches wide. This will hasten the death
of the tree, and you may have the pleasure
the next year of cutting it down, and obtain
ing CARLOAD of irewood as reward for your
perseverance.
There are quicker methods, such as cutting
a tree down, and soaking the roots with sui
pburic acid, &C., but these are not artistic,
and they make an end of the matter too quick
to be amusing. Slow processes are to be pre-
ferred, such as destroying the surface roots,
tearing off the bark, carving your name, and
the names of all your friends on the stem,
painting the stem and branches with ordinary
house paints in which there is plenty of white
lead. Always allow young trees to be used
on washing days to tie cIothes-lines such
service is worth having, as it tends to bruise
the bark. and draw the tree aside out of the
which is nice strain on its
roots, and very advantageous. Above all
things, when transplanting, make short work
of it. just open the soil around the tree, and
chop at its roots freely, and then tear it out
of the ground. 1t is sheer waste of time and
strength to loosen every root with fork, and
lift it without injuring fber.-LOndon Gar
ieners' Weekly Magazine.
'sIt is very singular thing" said tailor's
to his master, ssthat the less there
is of thing. the more there is.'' aHow can