The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1898-03-19
Rabb,ts Gn.wJnp Trees.

In recent issue of your paper there
appears a request for some one to tell
what to do with apple trees that have
been gnawed by mice. Since this CUES
ton is Of no little Importance, owing
to the fearful destruction made so
often by mice gnawing the bark on
from young trees, have thought 1t
well to offer some suggestions OF my
own which may or may not meet the
views of all. In the first place 1t mas
been through improper care or neg
lect that they have been thus injured.
Had B. D. kept the surface clean ABOUT
his trees for three feet Of all seeds or
trash, or even tramped the snow
down about them as soon as the
ground was covered, the mice would
have given them a wide berth. But
this is not the question we are asked 10
answer. 1t is not the "ounce of proven
tive" that appears to be asked for, Dut
the pound of cure. If the trees have
not been gnawed entirely around or
even slightly, and discovered soon be-
fore the wood dries hard, they can oIteh
be saved by making mud OF clay, put
ting 1t around and over the whole,
wound, holding it there with some OLD
cloth or stove pipe. But when too Tar
gone, would advise a serious change
in early spring, as soon as the earth
thaws out in April, cut the trees either
close to the ground or little below the
injury and set in some choice variety
Of scions that you have recently learn
ed to be superior to the tree when seI'
or at least would be now preferred Dy
the nurseryman who started THESE
three or four years ago. II the WORK
be properly done, he will lose DuI NJ
tie in time or value, but frequently VIII
find this a blessing in disguise. II MS
gnawed trees were scrubby, crooked or
poorly trained, as very many are ne
can make a great improvement, ana III
the end lose very little and often Sc
cure a much more desirable variety
than the tree dealer put off on him IN
the start If your variety is not strict
ly hardy, be sure to put in scion Oh
we'll known hardness. This will help
even a tender root. This is not the best
plan to make sure of g. long lived tree,
but it Is the best cheap way to repair
the evil If the trees were as Marcy as
Duchess or Hibernal then would not
cut the stems any lower than just De-
low the injury, providing there Is
chance to retain the hardy stem or any
part, But. as rule, mice gnaw trees
close to the ground, and it is very sell
dom one can save even two inches Oh
, the trunk, as mice never climb trees to
graw the bark except when shut IN
pile of trash that is often piled about
the stem IN the fall or winter. men,
as a rule, be had better mud up or
wait till early spring and graft close
down. say three inches, below the sur
face, so when the scion is set it can be
banked around with fresh earth as high
as the third bud. If the root be good
he will soon grow fine new stem
that will often be much superior to the
cue the tree dealer sold him. But II
the trees were all he now desires, cut
off the stems close to the ground and
trust to their sprouting from the stem.
This will save him from being hum
plugged by some scheming CRATER, or
let this furnish him fine opportunity
to practice grating, and if the scions
fail he will still have a chance on the
coming sprouts. / would trust to the
sprouts If the original tree was what
/ now wanted and could not do the
grating myself. But grating adds an
5ther chance to save the tree, as such
stubs are more liable to fail to grow
.han are scions we'll set. Would advise
8. D. to go over his trees soon and ex-
anime carefully and such ag appear
past recovery saw Off close to the
ground and cover the stubs till wanted
10 graft or to sprout in spring. Thou
sands could have been saved in 1885
had we sawed our old tree off
before warm weather close to the
ground. The greater share Of trees
thus treated would have sent up vigor-
GUS shoots and often been a great i'm
provement on the original stem. II B.
D. concludes to trust to sprouts let
him reserve as many as three of the
most vigorous so as to better balance
the root and top, invariably retain
three shoots, as each will aid to protect
the other by shading the ground and
the trunks Of each other.
EDISON GAYLORD.
Apple scab Fungus.-Now is the
time to spray for apple scab fungus
The experimenters say that the winter
is the time when the work must be
begun, If good results are to be expect
ed for the coming year or years. There
are many mild days in winter that can
be utilized for this purpose. The
spores of the fungus are cast off in the
fall and find their Judgement on the
trunks and limbs Of trees.
Look after the lawn.