Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-11-25
RENEWING OLD TREES
Intelligent Pruning VIII Produce Al
most Wonderful Results.

Intelligent Pruning VIII Produce Al
most Wonderful Results.
Old trees are among the most cher
ished treasures of rural and suburban
homes. They are the most costly, too,
as every finished product is costly into
which has entered those Transforming
and creative processes which only long
reaches of time can furnish. An old
house may fall down or be destroyed by
fire. and while we mourn the loss Of the
visible sign of old associations, better
and more beautiful structure can be
made to take its place. But when an old
tree that has been the guardian of the
home for generations, and stood there
before the home was founded, surren-
Gers to the blast, the loss is beyond re-
pair, for long time, at least. As there
is no immediate remedy possible, the
need of precaution becomes all the
greater.
When one of these old sentinels be-
gins to show signs Of disease and decay,
and year by year grows more attenuated
in its branches and weaker in leaf
growth and power. we watch it as we
watch a friend attacked by slow, but
incurabls malady. But remedies are
now being discovered for almost every
i'll of the body, and successful tree
surgery is or may be as common as the
higher form of that science. \ recent
number of Garden and Forest discusses
the rejuvenescence of old trees, and
gives practical directions for effecting
it, Directly to the point are two illus
trations of the same tree, a venerable
oak in the Arnold Arboretum. The first
is of tree with far-reaching branches,
but marked by infallible signs of de-
crepitude. the LEAKAGE scanty and the
general prospect of life discouraging.
The second illustration shows the
same tree IL years later, shorter of limb,
/ it is true. but displaying vigor in every
! leaf and fiber. and exhibiting every
| characteristic of youth and strength
| and hopeful promise of longevity. No
! miracle. not even one of natures, has
/ been performed. The result is simly
! one of skillful tree surgery, of intelli-
/ gent pruning according to the De Car
| system. which. instead of sending the
| tree blood long distances through col
! lapsed and withered arteries, contracts
| the area and applies the nourishing
] forces III sum d way bidl liSN Ndh OC
/ assimilated and made to promote the
| growth of all the members.
The process is one which almost any
| intelligent farmer or tree owner should
be able to apply. "Vigor can be re-
stored to a tree in this condition by
shortening all its branches by one-third
| or one-half their entire length. The
only care needed in this operation is &c
cut back each main branch to a healthy
lateral branch. which will serve to at
tract and elaborate by means of its
/ leaves a sufficient flow of sap to insure
the growth of the branch" These di
rections must be carefully observed t.
prevent further decay, and care mus
also be taken to leave the lowest limbs
the longest, so that the greatest possible
leaf surface shall be exposed to thu
light. So if some old tree, near roadside
or dwelling, that has been the Landmark
of a century, shows alarming symptoms
the owner should not despair before h
has treated it according to the gen
cral plan here laid down.-Boston Tran
| SpriDf