The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-08-15
Whitswash tie Tree.
investigation shows This Simple Rem
sdy of Great Value-Methaas
Of Preparation and
Applaation

lime. and that runs back to a period
which antedales history. For some
years, IN many parts Of the country,
this practice fell into disuse. for in
the opinion Of many growers there
was no apparent reason for any bene.
ft which might result. Within the
last ten years the practice hiss been
riveted, chiefly because late inyestlga,
tions show how and why it Is Of ben
eft to the tree.
There are a host Of fungous troubles
showing on the trunk and limbs Of
trees which are generally known as
cankerB. While there are some Of
these cRnkers which are general all
over the country, there are others
which are peculiar only to certain To-
caiities. Cankefs sometimes show as
depressed spots; sometimes they are
darkened; and sometimes there IS
more or less cracking and curling up
of the bark over the cankered area.
Only botanist who has made a study
OF these cankers can recognize them
Ry sight, and be is usually not vers
certain Of them without laboratory
examination This, however. is OF
comparatively little Importance. for
the treatment Of the different ones
does not materially differ They all
tart from q small spore which falls
on the bark, starts to grow and sends
its thread-like myeelium down through
the bark to the cambium below.
Nothing can be done for these can.
kered areas after the fungus has
started to grow, except to cut out
the diseased area, and this Of course,
means the destruction Of the bark and
oambium, All measures, consequent
ly, should be preventive. One Of the
best Of these preventive measures is
to see that the bark is covered with
something that will prevent the spore
Of the fungus from growing after it
falls thereon. The best thing for this
purpose is probably whitewash.
The discovery Of several new cank.
erE, and the extension OF the field Of
several old ones, makes the use OF
whitewash particularly timely. The
disorder known as sun-scald Is by
many supposed to be due to a fungus.
In this case the fungus apparently
only attacks the tree N case there Is
weakening OF the tissue BY over
heating by the suns rays. Here. as
with other eankers whitewashing will
be found an effective preventive.
A simple mixture Of lime and water
win make as effective a preventive as
anything else, except that 1t does not
stick or last as well as could be de.
sired. Hence there are many recipes
for making whitewashes which are
supposed and usually do, stick much
better than lime and water alone. In
making these special whltewashes.
the lime should be slaked in the reg.
ular manner, taking care not to let
II burn For making whitewash, good
fresh hump lime should be secured.
as whitewash made from air-slaked
lime does not stick well. After slak.
ing water should be added so as 10
make wash, somewhat thick for
brushing. To this mixture the other
ingredients should be added, and then
more water till It is OF the right con
sistency for applying with a brush.
The ingredients other than the lime
and water are usually salt, starch in
some form, and milk. They have no
apparent connection with one another
in their sticking effect Some people
use one or two Of these substances
without the remainder The way n
which the salt adds to the sticking
capacity of whitewash is somewhat
obscure, as salt itself is not known
to have any sticking properties. Salt
should be used sDaringly as there is
a possibility Of injuring the trees II
salt be present il too large quantl-
Ties. One or two pounds Of salt to six
gallons Of whitewash is about right
Starch is always added as a paste
and simply means giving the mixture
some Of the adhesiveness Of paste
For this purpose the writer has found
more efiacious than regular
paper hangers paste. made by thor.
Dughiy mixing aouY and a little starch,
Try, adding cold water, and stirring
lntil all humps are gone, and then
pouring ON boiling water until a gooa
.hlck paste results This paste should
DO added to tho whitewash In the pro
portion Of about one to six. Skim
milk gives the mixture somewhat
more cohesion, owing to the fibrim OF
he milk, and prevents, or at least
essens. taking. MIX may be added
n any quantity IN which It may be
lynilable, up to one quarter Of the
otal mixture. It should never be sd.
led TO the lime before 6laking.
WhItewash should be applied with /
] brush and well brushed in 30 as to
III all cracks and depressed places
n the bark When It Is brushed IN
oosely or sprayed in. it does not stick
iearly so well-N. o. Booth. Depart. +
mont Of Horticulture & Botany, Okla. f
loma A. & M. College. saltwater