Turpentine Treatment Saves Elm Trees

Turpentine Treatment Saves Elm Trees FARM HOME Miscellaneous 21-2-31 Here's how John Williams, New Albany, Ind., protects his elm trees from Dutch Elm disease: "Bore a 3/4-in. hole about 1/2 in. deep into the tree. Put an elbow on one end of a 3/4 by 4-in. pipe nipple. Find a bottle that you can screw onto the elbow. "Screw the nipple into the tree until tight, then unscrew half a turn. Put 8 oz. of turpentine in the container for large trees, less for smaller trees. Turn the bottle upside down and screw into the elbow. "For small trees up to 16 in. dia., you should start with 2 to 4 oz. or so. The amount isn't that critical. If you put too much it will burn the tree but it will recover. "I treated one of my trees over 30 years ago and another one over 20 years ago. They were dying at the time but recovered fully after just one treatment. You can use any-thing that you can fasten to the side of the tree. A piece of garden hose or bent pipe will do. "The turpentine works its way thorugh the water vessels of the tree, destroying the fungus as it goes. Spring is probably the best time to treat a tree but it would probably work anytime during the growing sea-son." (John Williams, New Albany, Ind., in Mother Earth News)

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