The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-19

ventitious buds this springs. In a few years. nature may satisfactorily replace the broken limbs.
 Hanging limbs should be removed as soon as possible. They are not only dangerous and unsightly but may seriously injure the rest of the tree by rubbing or by ripping of long strip of bark when they finally fall. All broken limbs should then be cut back flush with a side branch wherever possible. Cut surfaces should be covered with shellac, grafting wax, or any of the asphalt repairs should be considered from the standpoint of permanency and thorouoghneSS. It is excellent prac- tice to bolt and cable weakened or split limbs and to strengthen weak crotch systems by cabling. This is good insurance against excessive injury in the future. Exposed sur- faces, resulting from limbs tearing the bark or other mechanical injur- ies, should have the bark around the area traced in an elliptical fash ion. and painted to insure good healing. If splinters and uneven surfaces occur, they should be smoothed of with chisel, tapered, and painted to forestall decay. If a tree has been badly injured, fertil- ization may be particularly well worth while in hastening the de- velopment of sucker shoots and increasing their growth. A quickly available supply of nitrogen may be the best form to use at first. This should be applied in crowbar holes about the base of the tree as soon as the frost is out of the ground CThe Experiment Station will send a circular on this subject, on re- quest)
 '"The injuries which will cause bleeding of naples, birches and cer- tain other trees have already oc- cured and will not be aggravated or lessened by repair at this time. Except for the unsightly appearance, it is doubtful if this loss of sap does appreciable injury. Cut surfaces on trees which bleed badly may need to be repainted after the leaves are out and the surface has dried.
 Requirements Advised
 There are certain instances in which it may not be worth while trying to repair a valuable tree. If the trunk is badly split in addition to having the top broken, it is gen. erally better to replace the tree. Even with a good cavity filling it may often be impossible to exclude wa ter and decay fungi in such a split trunk. If it is desirable to leave some of these trees, in many instances | they may be bolted and carried along | for few years until replacement gets started.
 Tt is very important that tree owners in the path of the ice storm realize the advisability of beginning this work as soon as possible. If re- pair is delayed, the new shoots which may be vital in replacing the broken tops are quite likely to be injured while the necessary work is going on and decay fungi are much more &C., tive during warm weather. In addi- ton, full advantage can be taken of the vigorous callus growth which oc- CUTS in early spring if the work is dCne now.
 Employing an experienced man who is licensed by the state to prac- tice as tree expert may be found most economical in the end. The home owner or his gardener can usu- ally do some pruning on small trees but an expert will do the work faster and more safely on large ones. Aerial work is not entirely a matter of self confidence and it is strongly advised that the inexperienced should not it."
 A similar ice storm occurred in New Haven in 1924, the foresters re- called.