The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-01-01
RENEwrEo oLD Trees


most Wonderful Results.
Utd trees are among the most cher.
shed treasures of rural and suburbsn
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
nre, 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
nome for generations, and stood there
before the home was founded, surren-
1ers to the blast, the loss is beyond re-
kfeir, for longtime, at least. As there
no immediate remedy possible, the
need OF precattioh becomes sail the
greater. - ~ ~
When one of these old sentinels be-
gins to'show Sans Of disease and decay,
and yearly year grows more attenuated
IN Its branches and weaker in leaf
growth and, powerfwe.watch il as we
watch friend attacked by slow, but
tneurable malady. But remedies are
now being discovered for almost every
III 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 Forest discusses
the reJuvenescence of old trees, and
gives practical directions fol. efseting
II. Directly to the point are two Illus.
trations of the same tree, a. venerable,
oak in the Arnold Arboretunl The first
Is ofa 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,
1t is true, but displaying vigor In every
leaf and fiber, and exhibiting every
characteristic of youth and strength
Ahd hopeful promise of longevity. No
miracle, not even one of natures, has
been performed. The result is simlv
one OF skillful tree surgery, of intefli-
gent pruning according to the De Gar
system, which, instead of sending the
Gree blood long distances through COL {.
iapsed and withcred arteries, contracts
the area and applies the nourishing
forces in such way that they caIibe
assimilated and made to. promote fke
growth of all the members. "
The process is 6rSjrjich ALMOST any
intelligentfarmef ~ tree owner should
be able to apply. ''vieor can be re-
stored to tree in this condition by
shortening all its branches byone-third
or one-haH their entire length. The.
only care needed in this operation is Il.
cut back each main ;branchto ahealthy
lateral branch, which viii serve to at
tract and elaborate by means of its.
ieavessa sufficient flow of sap to insure
the growth of the branch" These dir. |
rections must be carefully observed to
prevent further decay, and care must /
also be taken to leave The lowest. limbs
the longest.soihatf ne Greatest possible
leaf surface shall: be. EXPOSED Is The |
light So ii some oflstree, near roadside 7
or dwelling. that has been the landmark
Of a century, slows alarming symptopsrI
the ewner should not despair before hs
has treated it according to- the gen.
cral pla1rhere laid down.-Boston Tra4s$
script. Z, ~ ~ xs sitq