Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1897-12-18
REJUvENATlNe OLD TREES.
Scientific Method of ImpartinE New
ViEOr Into DecayinE Trunks.

Scientific Method OF ImpartinE New
ViEOr Into DecnyinE Trunks.
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, bet
ter 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 sur
renders to the blast the loss is beyond
repair, for a long time at least. AS
there is no immediate remedy possible
the need of precaution becomes all the
greater. When one of these old senti-
pels begins to show signs of disease
and decay and year by year grows more
attenuated in it's branches and weaker
in leaf growth and power we watch
ii as we watch friend attacked by a
slow but incurable malady. But RENE
dies are now being discovered for al
most every i'll of the body and successful
tree surgery is or may be as common
as the higher form of that science.
A recent number of Garden and For
est discusses the rejuvenescence of old
trees and gives practical directions for
effecting it. Directly to the point are
two illustrations of the same tree, a ven
cradle oak in the Arnold arboretum
Ao =, - LII L E. u.
branches, but marked by infallible
signs Of decrepitude, the LEAKAGE scanty
and the general prospect of life dis
couraging.
The second illustration shows the
same tree 12years later, shorter of limb,
it is true, but displaying vigor in every
leaf and fiber, and exhibiting every char
| actcristic of youth and strength and
hopeful promise of longevity. No
miracle, not even one of natures, has
been performed. The result is sim
ply one of skillful tree surgery. of in
telligent pruning according TO the De
Care system, which instead of send
ing the tree blood long distances
through collapsed and withered arteries
contracts the area and applies the nour-
| iOiSCS III a way lHub luey
can be assimilated and made to promote
TIE 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 to
cut back each main branch to healthy
lateral branch, which will serve to at
tract and elaborate by means of it's
leaves sufficient flow of sap to insure
the growth of the branch" These di-
rections must be carefully observed to
prevent further decay, and care must
also be taken to leave the lowest limbs
the longest, 80 that the greatest possible
leaf surface shall be exposed to the
light. So II some old tree, near road.
side or dwelling, that has been the
landmark Of a century, shows alarming
symphonic, the owner should not de.
spair efore he has treated IT accordin 6
to the general plan here laid down.
Il n - N. - ID. . . l. 81