Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-13
need OF EXPERT attention FOR
HONOLULlpS TREES IS EMPHASIZED

their youth up If they are to serve
their purpose we'll.
Street trees must be headed high
enough so that their branches do not
| interfere with passing vehicles. Many
| places in the city We find poincianas
growing so low over the street that
| machines can not run up along the
curb without injury to their covers.
With these low,growing Towering
trees which are commonly planted
along the curbing. results can only be
accomplished by frequently pruning;
forcing the head up by the judicious
selection of erect branches and the
removal of all those that are low
hanging.
The manner OF pruning, too, is a
matter Of great consequence. II the
work is turned over to the yard boys,
as is the common practise here, we
often find the trees left in a sorry
plight-the branches unfortunately
hacked away at various lengths and
angles without regard to principles
which must be observed if the wounds
are to heal properly. Fortunately, the
pruning of our park trees has been
more carefully done; the branches
removed have been cut off close to the
main trunks, so that the flow Of sap
soon heals over the scars.
Satisfactory pruning can only de-
velop from a knowledge OF tree
growth-a branch cut off so that it is
out of line of the flow of the sap will
surely die back and fail to heal over.
II the scar is large exposing some of
the dead heart-wood in its center de-
cay rapidly sets in unless the wound
is properly covered with some water
proofing material 1t must always be
remembered that the bark is natures
protection against infection just as is
the skin on our own bodies. While
trees are very resistant to disease,
more so even than animals, the germs
Of decay. can only enter through
breaks in the bark. Quite true, the
breaks may often be very small such
as those made by the boring of in
seets which carry spores in with them
setting up decay. The sap-wood is
rather resistant to disease due to the
active flow of water through it, but
If decay once gets started in the dead
heart-wood, it quickly spreads outward
and the tree is so weakened that it is
soon broken over by the winds.
The heart-wood, even though it is
dead wood, gives the stiffening and
strength to the tree. If for any rea-
son the tree becomes hollow, decay
can only be stopped by cutting out
and sterilizing all diseased tissue and
filling the cavity with a waterproof
substance to avoid further infection.
Root Treatment. 't1
Under this heading we must in
clude: proper drainage so that the
roots receive air. supplying fertilizers
principally in the form of humus and
watering. x -.
1t is too common custom here to
have a small basin at the foot of the
tree supplied from time to time with
fertilizers or filed with water. The
ordinary yard boy does not take into
account that the feeding roots are out
under the ends of the most-distant
branches, and that all the larger roots
nearer the base of the tree are heavily
covered with bark as a protection to
their drying out; hence, no water or
food can enter them except at their
tips. The basins at the foot of the
trees should be filled up If for no 9TH
er reason than to keep water out of
them. Trees on lawn get sufficient
moisture from the watering of the
grass and get it in the right place.
The question of oxygen for the roots
is a rather difficult one in our COM |
pacing soils, especially during a pro-
tracted wet season. ALI surface water
should be drained away as rapidly as
possible, and as the ground dries the
mud-cracks permit air to come in con- |
tact with the roots.
Insect Attack.
Honolulu is particularly fortunate
regarding pestivorous insects upon |
her trees. | know of no place upon |
the mainland that is so free from their |
depredations. We do, however, have
one very destructive borer that works
under the bark of our monkey pods. |
This beetle if undisturbed will kill the |
largest trees by entirely separating |
the bark OF the trunk from the sap |
wood. We\ca only be sure of the
permaneney of these grand trees by |
constant attention.
Care Of Trees in Other Cities.
In many of the larger cities of the |
regular officials have charge |
of the trees of parks and streets, CIV
ing their whole time to this important |
work. They superintend all planting, |
pruning and repair work, and in case |
of insect-attack, give systematic spray
ing or other treatment. These men
where they are selected because of |
their training in this particular line |
of work get excellent results. One
has but to visit such city as Wash |
ington, d. c., and note the effect.
In some of the smaller cities the |
work is entirely in charge of the Ia
dies. They are voted regular money |
for carrying it on; and they see to
securing expert service whenever the
trees require it. East Hampton on
Long Island, most charming little
city, is managed in this way. | was
called to superintend their spraying
operations during an outbreak of
elm leaf beetles, which threatened the
and destruction of their |