The Daily Missoulian., 1913-08-09


attended to the trees of that town
visiting each daily as a physician does
his patients. When all We're in good
order he presented bill for five
hundred dollars which the town was
glad to pay.
The same processes are being APP
Piled to trees in all parts of the coun
try It is most desirable when it saves
historic trees which have a peculiar
value to community. although 1, is
quite worth while to give the same
care to any tree which has acquired
sufficient spread of branch and width
of trunk to provide shade and to i'm
prove the health of locality In
CharlestoWn, S. c., treatment has re-
Gently been given to the Council tree,
MAGNIFICENT magnolia which has
stood since colonial times. Several
important council meetings have been
held under its branches, and the towns
people think it we'll worth while to
preserve it from the fate which over
took the famous Penn Treaty tree of
Philadelphia
Several of the thirteen gum trees
which were planted by Alexander
Hamilton in his garden i'll New York
city in honor of the thirteen original
states. Lave recently received treat
ment by tree doctor These trees
are near St Lukes' rectory which
once was the Hamilton mansion.
In Boston, in Providence, and in a
number of other New England towns
old trees dating back TO colonial days
are being preserved foi future genera
tions. In New Orleans, a group of live
oaks which belonged to one Of the
early estates We're last year turned
over to the tree doctors with good
results. iii Quincy, ILL.,. the citizens
are rejoicing over the preservation Or
some fine Old park trees which last
year seemed doomed to- extinction.
So keen is the interest III the work
that women's clubs and village i'm
provement associations are Nieing with
each other in raising funds to pay
for the services OF 4 tree doctor ~
towns where the public treasury seems
Inadequate.
Tree surgery is distinct from fores-
try work although eventually it will
no doubt form one Of the courses Of
study in the forestry schools. Thous-
ands Of trees valuable both for their
benefit to their communities and for
historic association have been ruth
lessly sacrificed in the past because
of the ignorance and neglect OF those
who should have cared for them. John
DaveN, the veteran pioneer ot nract-
cal tree surgery III America wakes
warm over the tree life thus ruth
lessly sacrificed by the tree butchers"
who thoughtlessly clip a sprig here
and cut a branch there without any
care as to the closing Of the wound
OF the needless waste Of the sap which
is the blood of the tree He is advo-
eating a campaign of public educa-
tion for the children Of this country
upon this subject in order that the
trees of the future may be better cared
for. Tree surgery consists of the
proper pruning of trees and the care
ot all wounds, both new and old
Every rotten spot upon a tree is the
| result of some wound or injury which
| NAV have Ieen received when the
y
ected it developed rot and decay just
| as the neglected wound of an ANIMAL
may suppurate and produce serious
| conditions. Every cut or wound made
in a tree should be promptly pro-
tected by a coating of tar or lead
paint applied from two to four days
after the cutting so that the surface
! may be dry enough to absorb it prop
! erly. Tn exceptional cases, this coat
ing may be applied Immediately after
the cutting, when to do 1t later would
necessitate the dangerous reelimhing
of Il high tree. Large wounds shoni1
be inspected each year and painted or
tarred until they are completely healed
over II cracks or scars appear upon
the surface these should be carefully
filled with tar or paint to keep out
moisture.
The time Of pruning is important
1t should be done when there is the
least flow of sap and when there is
the longest possible growing season 70
assist in healing The wound. The meth
cd of cutting off branches is also
important. In removing a large limb,
an undercut should be made first in
order to prevent splitting slivers OF
bark and wood from the trunk, In
taking off large heavy branch, 1t IS
better to eut off the main body first
at distance of several feet from the
trunk after which the stub can be am
pntated without danger of running the
tree.
No protruding stumps of limbs must
be left They give the tree an un-
slightly appearance and are rarely II
ever healed oyer. Even after many
years, the exposed wood may admit
decay into the trunk of the tree. The
tree doctor frequently finds his
heaviest work ia curing the decay re-
sultant from these protuberanees which
need never have begun II the tlrs'
cutting had been properly done,
Filling the cavity of a great tree is
an interesting operation both to the
tree doctor and the many people VINO
live to watch his work. After the
cavity has been thoroughly cleaned out
a thin coating of tar is applied
Creosote was formerly used for TINS
purpose but hats heen discontinued be-
cause il has been found TO penetrate
the wood of the tree and to escape
through the bark After the first coat |