Reading an old textbook and found out they used to cut cavities in trees to 'drain' them

Found this in a 1970s arboriculture guide from my grandpa's shed. They'd actually drill a hole and insert a pipe, thinking it helped with decay, which we now know just makes it worse. Anyone else come across these old practices that make you cringe?

2 comments

2 Comments

palmer.zara5d ago

Oh man, that's a classic. My uncle swore by painting tree wounds with tar, which is basically just sealing in the rot.

hannaht295d ago

Remember reading about that, it's wild. I had a similar shock with an old gardening book that said to use motor oil on fence posts. Totally agree with @palmer.zara about the tar thing too, just traps all the moisture.