The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-08-21
RenoyatIng Old Trees.

In very old trees, restorative measures
often tail to produce any lasting improve
ment But In the case of trees that are still
comparatively young, and which may be
suffering from neglect of some kind, and
are not deficient in vitality, renovating
measures are often attended with most
satisfactory results. Ii takes time, how
ever, and patience must be exercised
What has been going wrong, may be for
years, will require proportionately long
period to be put right again, but the pro
gress Of Improvement will be more rapid
every year. This is owing to the peculiar
tues OF tree growth. Improvement always
of course. takes the shape of better growth,
healthy foliage, and stronger wood. These
in turn deposit fresh layers Of tissue,
which promote more active circulation of
the juices every season the effects of which
are observable in the more rapid distentiOn
of the trunk and limbs and a proportionate
Increase in the roots, TILL in time, the tree
grows out of its debility, and RECEIVERS. Old
fruit trees are Oitener operated upon in
this way than any other subjects, and there
are few gardeners who are not familiar
with examples of old or feeble vines or
peaches, etc, that have, so to speak been
= few years. Feeble growing and un.
healthy trees are, rs a rule, the result of
starvation. bad SOL, or untavOrable con
ditiOns Of the atmosphere, climatic or other
wise When "A tree dies from old age. the
signs are plain enough, and very little can
be done To help it except taking great care
Of the sCant foliage It puts forth each year,
and encouraging young growth by every
means to sustain the Pickering vitality
but In other cases the same signs are Observ-
able in Young trees, the cause of which
may be found and removed. One of the
surest signs Of debility is the pushing of
adventurous growths from the trunk and
main branches, and the dying off year by
year of the twiggy terminal shoots. The
sap does not circulate freely to the eXtremi-
ties, but chi efly about the trunk, putting
out feeble growth on those parts which
grow stronger the nearer they approach the
root. Old laurels often afford very good
examples of this.
When the tree is healthy, the top Is lux.
uriant; when IT, Is weak or Old the top dies,
or makes little or no growth, and small
shoots sprOut out all over the trunk. Very
often, when such bushes are cut over, they
push from the base and do we'll and If
aided by good soil put to the roots, the
result will be all the more satisfactory. In
fact, fenovating measures may be said 10
consist in the judicious removal Of the
feeble decaying tops and branches, and en-
COuraging fresh root action. The trees
should be pruned rather late in the spring,
when growth is about commencing, and
only the really disease or dead portions
should be cut away This having been
done the roots should be examined, and, II
there be reason to suppose that water stag
mates about them, the site should be drain.
ed thoroughly. In such = case that OF II
self will effect cure. We remember
once Il case of several young trees that We're
my,terou,ly dying of year after year at
the eN'remities of their shoots a Wet soil
not being suspected aS the cause, because
the whole ground had been drained wears
before.
The accidental digging Of pit near
where they grew, however, revealed the
water standing within - inches Of the sur
face, owing 10 the main drain having been
choked up. We need nor say the "hstruct
ion was removed, and the soil and trees
both presented q better appearance after
ward. But II is not 50 often that waut #
drainage j. the cause OF trees dying. In
thin, indifferent soils the cause is simply
want of sufficient nourishmeut and drought
both bad in themselves; and the cure l.