The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-02

New York, N. Y.-(Special)- year, more than ever before, our grounds and gardens should early be set in order. We must prepare in every way possible to offset the ug- liness of war. Our gardens, shaded by healthy trees and bedecked with colorful flowers, can become ver- itable retreats in which our hours of leisure may be enjoyed to the full.
 Annual Inspection Advisable
 Somehow few people give much thought to tree health. To allow trees to get in a run down, devital- ized condition or to suffer some major injury against which they could have been protected would ob- viously be urWise. Preventive work, on the other hand, as indicated by an annual inspection, Is most ex- cellent form of tree life and health insurance. "Tree inspection is es- sential to economical tree mainten- ance," says Homer L. Jacobs, Direc- tor of the Davey Research Labora- tories, land most of the ills from which trees suffer could be prevent ed if only @ little forethought and intelligent care was given to tree health problems"
 A check-up of the trees at this time would reveal any winter injur- les, the presence of insect pests, the need for feeding and other main tenance work such as cabling struc- turally weak limbs and the installa- ton of lightning protective equip- ment in valuable specimens.
 Remedy Winter Injuries First
 Many forms of injury that occur during winter require corrective measures in spring. Ice-encrusted branches may have snapped off. If so, the stubs need to be properly removed or else the wounds, af- fected by ood-destroying agents, will develop into large cavities. Careful pruning may be needed to reshape trees that have suffered winter storm damage. If forks have started to split under the weight of snow Or ice, immediate attention Is indicated to prevent further daIn- age and to repair the injury.
 Spring Spraying
 The annual spring check-up by a qualified tree expert will perhaps il- dicate the presence of destructive sap-sucking scale insects that cause the death of individual branches or entire trees. These injurious pests, along with many other species, can be controlled by the delayed dor mant spray. Trees would then start the season free from these devital- izing agents. Spraying mature spe- cimens must, of course, be done with a powerful sprayer if the spray is to reach and cover all the branches of tall trees.
 FertiIize For Vitality
 The spring physical examination by an expert will show the degree of vitality of trees. If vigor is inl- paired, feeding is essential. Haphaz- ard feeding or the improper appli- cation of fertilizer can be very harmful, so also can excessive feed ing as it is apt to make the wood of certain species very brittle.
 John Davey, pioneer of all mod ! ern tree maintenance methods, de- veloped a meticulously careful feed ing dosage chart. Ornamental shade and evergreen trees may now be fed according to their actual | ability to absorb food. Tree experts use Q specially compounded tree food and apply it directly to the rot zone. rather than broadcastine 1t on the surface. The latter meth cd, formerly SO commonly used, is dangerous. It tends to attract feed. ] ing rootlets Co the surface where