Re: [Cz-L] Man with chain saw.

Dear Mark,

I was in Czernowitz in August and could see that annual weeds, vines
and bushes had grown back in the areas which had previously been
cleared of all vegetation. The cemetery administration was supposed to
spray the cleared areas with herbicides, but neglected to do so. I will
be going to Czernowitz in April. At that time it will be most effective
to spray with herbicides and we - CJCRO, intend to have it done. We
also intend to have the mature trees which produce all the seeds for
the growth of sapling trees, cut and removed. In order that these trees
do not grow back, we will drill holes in the stumps, fill them with
Potassium Nitrate, which will effectively destroy the stumps. The
herbicides we intend to use are not acidic and will not harm the
gravestones.

This is not to brag, but I have a good knowledge of both Chemistry and
gardening and I am also consulting with people experienced in cemetery
restoration. Just the same I appreciate any advice offered and help in
researching the best methods of restoration and maintenance.

I hope that you and all others who are interested in the restoration of
the Czernowitz Jewish Cemetery will become members of CJCRO and
contribute both financially and in an advisory capacity to our efforts.

Mimi

Quoting Mark Wiznitzer <markwiznitzer_at_gmail.com>:

> Some explanation of cemetery clearing and upkeep.
>
> I was in the Cz cemetery in May and met the crew (using chainsaws) that was
> working on continued clearing in the NE corner near my paternal
> grandfather's grave. They burn the cuttings in nearby parts of the
> cemetery, although I don't believe it is done carelessly. However, by the
> time I returned in October, almost the entire cemetery, including that same
> area noted above was already overgrown with weeds and brush about 2 meters
> tall, including saplings from previously cut trees. I believe that there is
> a plan to begin applying herbicides in Cz, because it's size makes weeding
> alone fairly hopeless.
>
> From our own experience in Waschkoutz, where we attempted to leave tall
> trees for shade and to inhibit the growth of vegetation in the much smaller
> cemetery (about 800 graves), this is a continual problem. Out lead worker
> (we also relied primarily on chainsaws), who had also cleared the cemetery
> in Vyznitsia, (6000 graves) said that after cutting saplings for two years
> the roots will tend to rot. We hope to confirm his prediction. Weeds are a
> different matter and require weeding 3-4x/year or application of herbicides,
> maybe both, to control the problem.
>
> For the near future we will stick to weeding in Waschkoutz, perhaps planting
> more tall trees, because of concerns about the possible impact of chemicals
> on the sandstone markers, which are already brittle and prone to blistering
> and peeling. My concern was heightened after a recent visit to the old
> Sephardic cemetery in Curacao, located downwind from the island's oil
> refinery, where my maternal grandfather is buried. Although the chemicals
> to which they are exposed there are probably more caustic, in higher dosage
> and persistent for almost 100 years now, the much tougher marble stones used
> there are nonetheless illegible in most cases.
>
>
>
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Received on 2010-12-27 05:45:58