The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-08-08
Appeals For Test incubation To Guard
Presbyterian Elm Against Dread Disease

An effort to save the 100-year-old
Elm on the Presbyterian church lawn
from the Dutch Elm disease which
has already taken a toll of nearly
$50 trees in the community is being
made this week by the church.
Clair Fett of the Bluffton Slaw
Cutter Co., who has made a hobby
of caring for the churchyard giant,
feeding and watering it religiously,
has appealed to the American
Cynamid Co., to be permitted to test
a new incubation on the tree.
Mr.. Fett noted an item appearing
in the Toledo Blade stating that the
new chemical treatment will probably
be placed on the market in another
year. Meanwhile tests are continuing
to prove the product before it is
marketed.
In a letter to the manufacturer, Mr..
Fett asked that he be permitted to
make a test on Bluffton's elm. He
fears that to await commercial pro-
duction of the chemical may be too
late. The big tree already shows some
signs of the infection, he fears.
In his letter to American Cynamid
Mr.. Fett forwarded photograph.
This tree has been standing here
longer than most of us can remenl-
ber. 1t has been the center of many
community affairs. Under its spread
ing branches the town has enjoyed
band concerts, church suppers, Boy
Scout ice cream socials, public
addresses, etc.
"All of Bluffton loves this tree. 1t
is approximately four feet in dia-
meter, has a span of 80 feet and is
about 40 feet high.
"For the past several years the
writer has been feeding this tree
three times year approximately 4O
pounds 10-1O-10 fertilizer, and water
ing it heavily during the hot dry sum-
mer months. Thus far it appears to
be in good condition, but during the
past year we have lost approximately
$50 elm trees in this small commu-
nifty.
"The entire community is interest
ed in saving this tree if it is at all
possible.
eve understand you are producing
a new chemical for treatment OF the
Dutch Elm Disease, with which you
have had very good success when
applied at the proper time. We also
understand you are still experiment
ing with this and it is not yet avail
able for public distribution.
Members of our church and the
citizens of Bluffton in general would
appreciate it if you would consider
this as one of your experimental
trees and supply us promptly with
enough of this new chemical to treat
the tree. We of course will gladly
honor your invoice in payment for
this material" Mr.. Fett stated.
The treatment developed by scien-
lists at the Rhode Island and Con-
necticut Agricultural Experiment
stations was announced here more
than a year ago by DR.. H. W. Berky
of the Bluffton college faculty, who
said that he had been reading OF the
discovery.
If the large elm is treated, it VIII
mean boring series of holes through
the bark about waist high, in the |
spring, just as the leaves are be-
ginning to unfold and shooting into
the holes a liquid or paste contain
ing the chemical.
After the chemical is applied, the
holes would be corked. For success
sive inoculations, at the same time
each year, new holes would not be
necessary Those bored originally are
merely uncorked for further chemical
applications.
~