When a l a r g e limb is removed improperly, the b a r k a n d wood a r e o f t e n badly
ripped. T h i s is t h e common r e s u l t of removing t h e l i m b with only one cut. A f t e r
the saw s i n k s deeper and deeper into the
wood, the limb begins to sag. F i n a l l y , before t h e cut is completed, t h e l i m b crashes.
Rarely does it b r e a k off clean. Usually, it
rips t h e b a r k a n d wood on t h e lower side
of t h e limb. T h e jagged wound w h i c h results is p a r t i c u l a r l y susceptible to infection. S o m e t i m e s m a n y feet of b a r k a r e
torn a w a y a n d t h e a p p e a r a n c e of t h e tree
is m a r r e d .
How to Saw Off Branches
To p r e v e n t such injuries, t h e t r e e expert
m a k e s t h r e e c u t s with his saw. T h e first
is m a d e on t h e u n d e r side of t h e limb, a
foot or two f r o m the t r u n k . T h e second is
made on t h e t o p side a little f a r t h e r out.
The r e s u l t is t h a t when t h e limb f a l l s the
break is c l e a n — t h e r i p p i n g of wood and
bark is stopped a t the point w h e r e t h e first
cut was made. A f t e r the h e a v y p a r t of
the limb is removed, the t r e e e x p e r t proceeds to r e m o v e the s t u b flush w i t h the
trunk.
Needless to say, spurs should n e v e r be
used in c l i m b i n g the trees in o r d e r to
p r u n e it. Each hole made in t h e t r u n k by
the s h a r p p o i n t s leaves an opening t h r o u g h
which the tree can become infected. The
results of such wounds a r e often f a r worse
t h a n the benefits gained by p r u n i n g out
the deadwood.
Tree experts get to all
p a r t s of a tree by the use of r o p e s which
they have been t r a i n e d to use w i t h amazing d e x t e r i t y .
Incidentally t h e ax is a tool w h i c h always should be l e f t in the tool k i t unless
there a r e t r e e s to be cut down. W h e n a
tree is p r u n e d w i t h an ax, t h e w o u n d s a r e
almost i n v a r i a b l y jagged, a n d consequently
will not heal rapidly. The tree e x p e r t always uses saws f o r p r u n i n g work, a n d the
w o u n d s a r e so cleanly made t h a t t h e healing process is h a s t e n e d .
P r u n i n g is a very i m p o r t a n t a n d necessary phase of t r e e s u r g e r y . Dead b r a n c h e s
in a tree a r e a s e r i o u s m e n a c e — t h e y o f t e n
crash to t h e g r o u n d when least expected,
destroying
property
and
endangering
h u m a n life. Moreover, the deadwood menaces t h e t r e e ' s h e a l t h i n a s m u c h a s it is a
favored c a m p i n g ground f o r all k i n d s of
bacteria, f u n g o u s spores a n d insects. T h e r e
m i g h t well be a s l o g a n : Remove t h e deadwood and save t h e tree.
It m u s t be r e m e m b e r e d , however, t h a t
p r u n i n g t h e deadwood out of a t r e e does
not remove the cause of t h a t deadwood.
W h e n branches and limbs die back, t h e r e
is s o m e t h i n g wrong w i t h t h e tree. It m a y
be diseased; it m a y be s t a r v i n g to d e a t h ;
it m a y have been repeatedly defoliated by
insects a n d its vitality so lowered t h a t it
is slowly dying; it m a y h a v e girdling roots
which a r e s t r a n g l i n g it. Any one of a
g r e a t m a n y things m a y be wrong.
By m a k i n g a thorough diagnosis of t h e
t r e e ' s condition, the tree expert is enabled
to d e t e r m i n e t h e cause of the deadwood
and t r e a t the tree accordingly. Obviously
t h i s should always be done if the tree h a s
any p a r t i c u l a r value to t h e golf course.
( T h i s is the f o u r t h of a series of articles
r e g a r d i n g tree care w r i t t e n for G O L F D O M , by Martin L. Davey, president of
the D a v e y Tree E x p e r t Co.)
ANNOUNCE NEW COMPOST
AND S P R E A D E R
MIXER
D E A R D S L E Y & P I P E R COMPANY, 2543
N o r t h Keeler Ave., Chicago, have recently placed on t h e m a r k e t a new compost m i x i n g m a c h i n e and a topsoil dresser.
The m a n u f a c t u r e r ' s a n n o u n c e m e n t r e a d s :
" T h i s new Soilslinger
(illustrated here)
D
Soilslinger, new composter.
t h o r o u g h l y cuts, breaks, m i x e s and a e r a t e s
compost, completely pulverizes and prepares soil, sand and m a n u r e , and delivers
a perfectly blended m a t e r i a l into a fluffy
pile or windrow. T h e u n i t is simply cons t r u c t e d , possessing a specially designed
c u t t i n g cylinder to i n s u r e proper m i x i n g
and a e r a t i o n of m a t e r i a l s . I t is made w i t h
pulley f o r tractor d r i v e or with gasoline
engine or electric motor. While the Soilslinger will meet every capacity requirem e n t , it is p a r t i c u l a r l y applicable, because
of e x t r e m e l y low cost, f o r t h e smaller golf
courses a n d t h e needs of estates, etc.,
w h e r e only one or two m e n a r e employed
for turf m a i n t e n a n c e . "