Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-01
FIXING UP DECAYED TREES
MUST BE DONE CAREFULLY

pruning hook as though il were a
club. In doing so the hook usually
causes injury to the young bark near
by. Every new wound may furnish
new point of entrance for decay,
even though the old dead branch may
have been removed.
The use of climbing spurs should
be particularly avoided on trees in
vicinities where there is contagious
infection They simply render the
treated tree all the more liable to
catch the disease which is lin the
air."
All properly equipped firms of COM
mercial surgeons should have ladders
that would reach forty or more feet
into a tree. Ladders, ropes and rub
ber-soled shoes will allow a man to
reach practically every part. Re-
liable estimates indicate that it takes
somewhat longer (perhaps 25 per
cent. on an average) to do work on a
tree when these are used instead of
climbing spurs, and this is one reason
why many firms who value remuner-
alton more than reputation use the
spurs.
To Minimize UnreliabIIity.
The u. S. department of agricul-
ture is suggesting plan that may
help put commercial tree surgery on
a better basis. Owners are urged to
have a definite written contract with
the tree surgeons they employ, and
the following is suggested as model
for such contract.
l. No climbing spurs shall be used
on any part of a tree.
2. The shoes worn by the workmen
shall have soft rubber bottoms.
g. Ordinary commercial orange
-, oh
cut edges of sapwood and candium
(Which is the soft formative tissue
from which the new wood and bark
originated within five minutes after
the final trimming cut is made.
4. All cut or shellaced surfaces
shall be painted with commercial
creosote, followed by thick coal tar.
5. All diseased, rotten, discolored,
water-soaked or insect-eaten wood
shall be removed in cavity work and
the cavity inspected by the owner
or his agent before it is filed.
6. Only a good grade of Portland
cement and clean, sharp sand in no
weaker mixture than l to 8 shall be
used to fill cavities
T. The contractor shall repair free
of expense any defects that may app
pear in the work within one year.
II the owner prefers to have a cav
ity filled with asphalt or other ma
terial instead of cement, the con-
tract can be altered accordingly If
il is desirable to substitute some 9TH
er preparation for shellac, this can
be done. Similarly, under certain
conditions, various other modifica-
lions may be made. although altera-
tons in Nos. 1, 2, and should be
made with caution. 1t may so hap
pen that if all insect-eaten wood is
removed, the tree may be danger
ously Weakened; under such eondi-
tons the diseased matter can be re-
moved to solid wood and the cavity
fumigated. Other suggestions along
these lines may be found in the
pamphlet issued by the department.
Invitation to Cooperate.
The department realizes that this
science is comparatively new and
that methods in the near future may
be developed that will prove far SUI
| perior to some now in common use.
II therefore invites correspondence
either from individuals or firms con-
corning new methods of treatment
and is prepared to advise regarding
any particular method so far as ex-
perimental results will permit. The
| CO. operation OF all who are inter-
ested is necessary for this work All
interested are urged to write for the
new bulletin. --