Evening star., 1937-04-10
CHECK ON TREES
URGED IN SPRING
Things Discovered Early in
Growing Season kid
Fiqht on Pests.

Whether you have one tree or
great number, it is wise to make
thorough check-up or inspection in
the Spring, before the new growth is
started, according to Paul Davey,
prominent tree expert. The things
you discover then, he says, may have
much TO do with the satisfaction you
will have with your shade or orna-
mental trees later in the year
Spring inspection of trees is much
like the human check-up or periodi-
cal physical examination which has
come to be recognized as wise pre-
caution by so many people Davey
continues. You want to know
whether your trees are making the
satisfactory growth which indicates
general health, whether they have in
sect pests which are likely to injure
them in the growing season, whether
they show indications of disease, and
whether they have been structurally
weakened by the Winter storms. All
these things you can find out by
careful inspection which you can
make.
How to Check Growth.
Rate of growth is accurately indi-
Gated by the distance between the
buds which are swelling to form this
years leaves and the scars of last
years buds. Examine any twig or
the end of a small branch on the
outer circumference of the tree. At
the very tip will be bud, known as
the terminal bud, and near its base
will be one or more secondary buds
Look down the twig or branch and
you will find circular scar. That is
where last years terminal bud was
formed and the distance between the
scar Of last year and the bud of this
year is the growth for the year. Fur
ther back you will find the scar of two
years ago and still further back the
scar of three years ago, if the branch
has been growing that long. Look
around and you will have no trouble
picking out some slender branch on
which the record of several years is
written plainly.
If the rate of growth is uniform and
health of the tree If it is getting
less each year something may be wrong
and you will want to find out what
it is. Rates of growth vary with diff
ferent trees and different local con-
ditions Uniformity is the thing to
look for. Light color showing in the
creVices of the bark is an indication
of good health.
Insects found at this time of the
year will belong mostly TO the scale
family, whose eradication by dormant
spraying was discussed recently. Close
inspection may reveal eggs on the
under side of twigS and in the rough
places in the bark, especially if an
ordinary small magnifying lens is
used, and there may be cocoons which
can be removed and burned
Not Easily Recognized.
Diseases are not as eaisly recognized
in the Spring as after the growing
season has started, but dead patches
Of bark, any quantity of dead tWigs,
depreSSions or cavities or spots of de-
cay are all symptoms of disease. Dead
twigs or wind-broken branches should
be removed before growth starts. Make
record of possible disease symptoms
so you can watch those trees and get
help for them if necessary.
Look into crotches for incipient
splits which may be stopped by guying,
and go over a tree to see whether it's
structural strength is sufficient for
wind pressure when the leaves come
out. A little bracing in the Spring
may save bad wind damage in the
Summer. Be sure that every wound is
covered with some protective substance
to keep out insects and spores which
are the seed" of wood-rotting fungi.
You will find a lot of satisfaction
In thorough Spring inspection and
1t will show you how to get the most
out OF your trees"