The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-07-18
TERRANCE j. FORD ON
TREE SURGERY.


Forestry or more properly termed
Tree Surgery is comparatively re-
cent profession in the United States.
In Europe, however, men have stud
led this branch of science for many
years and have made many discov-
cries in the control of plant disease.
Trees die not as a result of age
but as result of disease which for
the most part gains a foothold
through decay. The primary work
of the Tree Surgeon can be compar-
ed to that of the dentist; his duty is
to remove decay from any part of
the tree wherever found; to clean
the cavity thoroughly; disinfect it
carefully and then put in suitable
filling thus restoring the tree to
health and beauty.
The true Tee Surgeon must un-
derstand the life of tree, the COM
position, construction and functions
of each individual organ such as the
root system, the wood fibres and the
leaves, and susceptibility of those
organs to injury from fungi, insects
and moisture; also the nature and
mode of life of the organisms caus-
ing decay, and the chemical and ply
sical changes that occur in the cells
and tissues of the wood.
Moreover, he must understand
how far nature itself will go in the
process of healing after the cause
| of decay has once been removed. For
| instance, if cavity has been prop
erly treated and filled, the natural
healing process of the growing wood,
| or cambium, as it is technically
known, will gradually grow over the
filling and completely hide the lat
| ter.
Some of the diseases to which
trees are subject result from poison
ing, injuries from heat and cold,
| abnormal food and moisture supply,
mechanical injuries, fungi and in
sects. None of these, however, are
| incurable.
Cutting the cavities involves more
than merely taking a mallet and
gouge and cutting out the rotten
wood. 1t must be done by one who
knows how or more harm than good
will be done.
After all the decayed wood is cut
out the cavity should be thoroughly
| disinfected the Allen Forestry Co.
for whom I am representative with
| offices in Rochester, N. Y, and Rich
mond, Va, use a specially prepared
| disinfectant called Allerute.
The cavity should next be studded
| and wired. That is done to hold the
| cement.
Now the cavity is ready to be fill
ed. When putting in the cement we
put in packing to allow for the
swaying of the tree.
When we find it necessary TO bolt
or brace limb we put bolts into the
limbs and a chain with a turnbuckle
to hold them in place. The chain
gives with the swaying of the tree
and the turnbuckle can be let out
to take care of the natural growth.
This method has saved many beauti-
full and profitable branches.
Pruning needs a Tree Surgeon.
Hit or miss pruning is the cause of
most tree diseases. Scientific prun-
ing keeps four things in mind: Re-
moval of all diseased or decayed
limbs which are beyond filling; cor
rection of cross branches; removal
of unnecessary live wood to restore
proper relation between roots and
branches; thinning, if it is a fruit
tree, so that the sun may develop
the fruit.
Spraying is also a part of the
Tree Surgeons work. If spraying is
done at the proper time and with
the proper sprays the insects and
scale will be done away with.