The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-30
HE TREATS TREES
TOpekan Devotes His Time to
This Kind of Work.
Reads Many Text Books on
Horticulture.
STARTED TO STUDY IN 1886
+. III. Felker Is a Specialist in
His Line.
He Tells Of Proper Method of
Tree Treatment.
STARTED TO STUDY IN 1886

Trees need doctoring Just the same
as human beings. according to E. H
FelAer, 500 East Fifth street. who has
been treating trees in Topeka since
1885. Felker knows, foF back in
kirksvtlle. Mo. his father twas a tree
man. From the early education from
his father along that line. and con-
slant reference OF special problems to
the department OF horticulture at the
Kansas State Agricultural college. he
Eas gained an experience and knowl-
edge such as few men have along this
special line.
In treating cavities the first thing to
do is to clean out all decayed matter
Just as a dentist does with a tooth
After IL has been scraped down TO the
live wood fiber, il is necessary that
the back of the hole be made larger
than the opening SO that a shoulder is
made on the filling and it will stay
securely in place.
The preliminary treatment OF all
cavities is the same. but the size de-
termines what kind of a filling can
be used to the best advantage. IN
IS cement. In small ones. however,
plastic asphalt can be used to very
good advantage.
After the cavity is thoroly prepared
by being cleaned out and properly
shaped. the surface is painted with
1AAElAdCr Just Pidln Sl6lldE. W nen LflaL
has dried little, it is then treated
with a solution Of five parts Of coal
tar to one part of creosote. This kills
any decay germ, should any be left in
the cavity. Before the application
has dried completely, a coat of as
phalt dressing is applied. This is in
the form of thick liquid. 1t is
drawn out well over the cambiunl.
The cambium is the growing part of
the tree just underneath the bark.
the outer ring OF growth covering the
sap Voc.
A Water-TiSht Dressing.
Then the cement filling is put in.
When that has hardened. the whole
surface of the injured place is sealed
with coat of asphalt dressing, the
same as was applied within. To make
the job perfect, another coat of as
phalt dressing should be applied after
one months time has elapsed. Then
there Is a water-tight. afr-tight dress
ing for the injured tree that will last
for all time
That is the treatment for large
cavity. For Il small one it is Just the
same with the exception that instead
OF putting in q cement filling it is
found Just as satisfactory to use one
of plastic asphalt.
Feiker treats more elm trees than
any other kind, but perhaps because
there are more elm trees in Topeka
than any other kind. A tree should
not have limbs cut off without the
subsequent application OF a dressing.
There is too great danger of fungus
infection which causes decay.
Tree bands that were used as dress
ings a few years ago to keep the
canker worms down in the spring,
probably did more harm than good, it
is said. The dressings are all right
when used properly. the trouble lay in
their being left on during the summer
and even fail in many cases, which
resulted in their becoming nests for
swarms OF foes, instead Of simply
keeping down the canker worms #
Many Kinds Of Scale.
There are several kinds of scale that
attack trees OF various species. Euro
pean scale is a fluffy. cottony looking
stuff that works particularly on elm
and maple trees, growing on the little
limbs.
The cure for scale OF any kind is
spray In the summer season when
the foliage is out, a spray OF mulsified
kerosene is best For a dormant spray
in the winter time five to ten pounds
of lime and sulphur to one hundred
gallons OF water will do the work. 1t
is the best for elm and San Jose scale.
but it is strong enough that 1t will
burn foliage II used at that time. If
Apply ms III lElG SpEA'NHa IL AALLAc dISCu-
ate and creose1ated nicotine added
to the lime and sulpAur will clean in
sect eggs, scale and everything in one
shot.
All insects attacking foliage may be
divided into two classes. leaf-eating
and leaf-sucking. For the leaf-eating
variety, n stomach poison of arssnate
will absolutely annihilate. For the
Ieaf-sucking kind 1t is necessary to
combat with contact poison of Gre
oselated nicotine.
The man who treats plant life has
some difficult problems and cases diff
fer. There is no known cure up to
the present advance of the science for
mildew of rose bushes. for instance.
The late freezes Of this spring in
Topeka caused much grief in killing
all the uit and without a doubt freed
plant life OF a great deal Of infection
of all kinds because they came after
all that sort of life was well deveI-
oped.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES