Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-11-07
Trees And Drought.
by Ovid Butler. Secretary, American
Forestry Association.1

Forestry Association.
Are the drought stricken trees which spot
the landscape in many regions of the coun-
try really dead? Why have some trees ap-
parently died or turned sickly brown. while
their immediate neighbors remain green
What is the extent of tree damage through
out the Nation and what tree species have
suffered most
1t will never be possible to set down in
exact figures the 1880 drought damage to
trees. If it were possible they would be
grouped as trees killed outright by lack of
water trees weakened by drought and later
killed by insects. disease or other external
forces; reduced crops of fruit and seeds
both in quantity and quality; arrested tree
growth and abnormal forest fire conditions.
While bliehted trees dotting fields, wood
lots. hillside and city streets throughout the
drought area have aroused the interest and
concern of the public, foresters express
the belief that the number of trees actually
dead this fall is much smaller than appear
ances would lead one to believe. None of
the foresters in the drought States places
the loss of large trees in excess of per
cent. The mortality of small trees. how
ever, has been much heavier. particularly
on dry sites and among baby trees growing
wild and in plantations.
1t appears where the leaves have withered
and fallen and winter buds have formed
the trees will come out all right next spring.
But in cases where the leaves have dried
up and remain on the tree it indicates either
that the tree has died or at least the ter
minal shoots have died back.
Fruits trees in the drought area have been
exceptionally hard hit. and. strange as it
may seem. the old reliable Ben Davis apple
tree has suffered the most. This was prob
ably due to the fact that these trees were
carrying an unusually heavy load of fruit
which in turn levied an additional drain
upon the reserve food supply of the trees.
Hundreds and thousands of dOgwoods
particularly in Maryland. Pennsylvania and
Virginia, appear to have been badly whip
ped at the hands of the drought. Theirs
is shallow root system that keeps close
to the surface of the soil. The soil is the
water reservoir of the trees, and successive
days of blazing sun with no rain interview
ing wreak vengeance first and longest on
the water supply of shallow-rooted trees.
The dogwood grows naturally under cover.
of larger trees. and its roots in their mois-
ture gathering work must compete with
the voracious roots of these sturdier trees.
In times OF drought the competition for
moisture becomes terrific and the tree with
the larger deeper root system has no mercy
for its competitors.
Any attempt to measure the extent of
tree damage at this time must at best be
speculative, because the full effect of the
drought upon tree life has not revealed
itself and will not for year at least.
and per haps for several years. While the
number of large trees actually dead at this
time may be smaller than appearances
indicate, there is no doubt that the number
of trees entering the winter in weakened
condition is very much greater than shows
on the surface Favorable or adveres
weather conditions during the winter or
coming spring will determine the fate of
ereat numbers of these trees.
The question naturally arises ii first aid
can be rendered drought-sick trees. With
forests. treatment of individual trees is
costly and impracticable because Of the
number involved. but street. shade and
ornamental trees generally can be given
individual attention without too great
cost. II extreme dryness continues through
ont the winter the tree should be given
feeding of easily assimilated nitrogenous
fertilizer next spring when growth begins
to stir The fertilizer should be we'll worked
into the soil from the. base of the tree to
the spread of the crown.