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["del stubbs" <pinewoodel@hotmail.com>]

I went yesterday to visit the old crab I had grafted over for a neighbor  - 
and came up with a question.
Two years ago I  cut off the 5" tree at 4' high, and bark grafted a number 
of scions;  they are doing well and flexible enough to still do the braiding 
thing I learned from Bob Purvis.     However, the old heartwood is now gray, 
and cracking.     It was cut horizontally, just like in all the pics I have 
seen.    Surely this is an eventual rot problem.....the rain going in the 
cracks, then a little rot that absosrbs more rain,... etc.
 I could coat with roofing tar, but it cracks, and I would think this might 
eventually promote even worse rot, and would have to be able to expand with 
the growing sapwood a few years as well.  There must be an industry standard 
I haven't heard of.   Thanks, Del
(Thanks for all the thermometer imput too.)

Del Stubbs  www.pinewoodforge.com  ag zone2/3


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