The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-25
TREE SURGERY
IS A SCIENCE
Proper Pruning Requires Atten-
ton of an Expert

Washington. u. g. July 25.-A cavity
in decayed tree is something like a
cavity in decayed tooth. II an unre-
liable tree surgeon who has been called
in To save the tree only partially re-
moves the diseased part Of the wood.
uses no ant.septic coating in the cavi-
" and fills il up with cement the tree
Is no more cured than is a person
whose decayed tooth has not been
properly filled by a dentist. The only
difference il that after the tree cavity
has been covered. il the work has not
been properly done. the tree has no
way Of making its trouble known eN-
cept by further decay.
Within the last decade there has
been a great increase in demand for
surgeons 20 repair decayins shade
trees. but the possibilities Of practicins
fraud in this profession like the in
stance just cited have tempted SO many
unreliable people 10 dabble in the
science that tree surgery has fallen
somewhat into disrepute. The L. :.
Department Of Agriculture realizes
that commercial tree surgery should
occupy high place in the estimation
Of the public. and has recently issued
pamphlet entitled. Practical Tree
surgery" wherein suggestions are
made for Improvement along these
lines.
Many individuals who have had faith
In tree surgery have lost ii through
following the advice Of unreliable tree
surgeons who claimed to be able to
diagnose a case. but whose main inter-
est was To collect a good sum of money
for their work.
Besides the careless filling of de-
cayed cavities in trees, there are other
practices Of certain so-called tree
surgeons" that do the trees more harm
than good. Many Of these surgeons"
as well as the people who employ them,
do not realize the danger arising from
fresh injuries 10 a tree. The tree own
er should realize that prompt attend
ance 10 fresh injuries will largely do
away with the need Of tree surgery Is
or 20 years hence. The tree surgeons
injuries in the living bark. when treat |
ing decayed portions they are laying |
the tree open 10 more dangers of in |
lection that will result in further de- |
cay.
To Minimize Unreliability.
The nana rfp 81 AgrEp,It,,ra
is suggesting a 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 follow
Ing is suggested as a model for such |
contract.
% No climbing spurs shall be used |
on any part Of tree.
% The shoes worn by the workmen
shall have soft rubber bottoms.
CD Ordinary commercial orange |
shellac shall be applied to cover the
cut edges Of sapwood and cambium
(Which is the soft formative tissue
from which the new wood and bark
originated within five minutes after
the final trimming cut is made
Cd All cut or shellacked surfaces
shall be painted with commercial creo-
sOte, followed by thick coal tar.
CD All diseased, rotten. discolored,
or insect eaten wood
shan be removed in cavity work and
the cavity inspected by the owner or
his agent before it is filled.
90 only a good grade of Portland
cement and clean, sharp sand in no
weaker mixture than to shall he
used to I'll cavities.
90 The contractor shall repair free
~ expense any defects that may ap-
pear in the work within one year.