Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-09-03
ftommunicased.
Saving TIE 0id College Popl1r-A Ire
markablc Case Of Tree Surgery

mafkable Case Of Tree Surgery
s1r EllteF -
A. many 81 eur citizens have made
znxlous Inquiries on the subject and
the Daughters - The American ~fseyo-
lption have expressed great interest
sn what - being done. you may con-
slider sae matter 81 this communica-
ton &c sufficient public interest %
rubileh Il.
The Board 81 Visitors and Governors
~ St. John's college has been for
Namn Gine past much concerned over
fhe conditions - the old historic pop
Jar tree on the front College Campus.
a commlties was appointed 10 take
tAe necessary steps 70 protect and, 4
possible. 81 preserve T. That com
mittee has been IN correspondence
with the Forestry Division % the T.
- Agricultural Department and has
taken other expert advice from those
having special knowledge on the
subject. Ii was found on careful ex-
animation that the main trunk was
50 largely decayesl that the tree was
supported ~ only = thin shell or
sonnd uood and by its bark. 80 pre-
eafion. IS its condition. that the won
der fs whv the immense weight has
not long ago crushed the slight base.
which supports 10 and how IL with
stands the tremendous strain Of even
! summer storm.
Nr James T. Woodward. Of New
York. an old Anne Arundel resident,
Who Is one ~ the members 81 the Col
leee Board and has been very generous
t. 81. Johns. ia the past. became In
ierested Ia the old tree and told the
committee to 60 ahead. at his expense,
and IL DO whatever was necessary To
save Is tie sent down Mr.. John 4.
Niihers who is considered the most
expert tree Doctor IN the country.
and hi. examination and report on the
subject have been considered and
adopted. lie is now in Annapolis with
bis men for the purpose Of doing the
necessary work 90 repair the ravages
a time and give the old poplar new
lease Of life. During the Civil War
an immense limb was wrenched BY a
storm from the esat side Of the tree I,
gap Eve or six feet vide aud some
fifteen feet high. extending To the
ground. was thus made in its -main
trunk. This gap has boen kept care
fully boarded mp, To keep out the
weather. but decay has continued
| within and The tree Is doomed TO de-
struction. if that decay be not soon ar
rested.
Mr.. Withers proposes to cut ont all
/ the decayod wood IN the cavity and
| carefully clean ID and treat il with
proper chemicals he will then Gil the
| entire hollow space with cement
| groufing. This viii exclude the air,
1 prevent further decay, and give per-
manent support and stability to the
grand old giant. who is getting de-
| cidrdiy weak in the knees. Experience
| has shown in sucn cases that the sur
| rounding bark will grow over and
| eventually cover the cement filling, il
| that filling does not come oct beyond
| the inner SURFACE Of the bark along the
edges Of the cavity.
This kind Of tree dentistry has been
IN use, for saving valuable old pa
/ triarches Of the forest, for many
years in England aud on the Cont
nent; and within the past fifteen
years has been largely in vogue in
the public parks of the larger cities
| in this country and on large private
estates. Several interesting and COM
! mandatory articles have recently APP
peared in the magazines, and official
and professional sanction and approval
| have been given to such methods~~In
| many parts of the country. Mr.. With
ers was employed for many years in
| this kind Of work by Olmstead Broth
| ers and by Manning Brothers, the
most distinguished firms of landscape
| gardeners and architects in this coun-
| try. lie has been, on his own account,
| doing a great deal of such work on
| the estates of Levi T.. Morton, Rhine
| beck: W. X. Peters, oyster Bay
James X. Roosevelt and Thomas New
bold. Hyde Park, y. "; VIM. M.
| Johnson. Hackensaek James w.
| Cromwell, summit, y. j., and on
| the estates Of the Rockefellers, ise-
| Inns and many others near New
/ York. lie has recently done n large
| amount of similar work on the estate
| Of Mr.. James II. Woodward in Prince
Georges county, Nd, and is under
| contract for Mt. Vernon, where many
| trees, planted by George Washington
4 are in need of such treatment.
IL will require many tons of cement
| grOuting To fill the cavity of this huge
| tree. for that tree measure over thirty
seven feet in circumference at its
base. All deeayed limbs will also
be cut OIL and the wounds carefully
treated and protected with proper
paint and cement. May il live many
centuries logger.
J. WRIT RANDALL.