The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-07-21
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ACRICULTURISTS
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Gull
tivation of tbs Soil and Yields
Observation-Disclosures viticulture and
Horticulture.
Sun-Scald.

TO the Farmers Review:-The term
sun-scald is commonly applied to the
destruction of a part or all OF the
bark of the trunk and main branches
Of trees upon the sides facing the
south, southeast and southwest, espe-
cially the last, caused apparently by
the rays of the sun. Though most
frequently used in connection with
fruit trees the effects may be seen upon
shade trees as well. Though the time
Of injury is a matter still under dis
pute 1t seems evident that trees may
be injured whenever favorable condi-
tions present themselves. These con-
ditions are first, exposed bark, second,
great direct heat from the sun, third,
alternate low temperature and direct
sun heat as presented during the early
spring. Though exposed bark may be
taken as the fundamental favorable
condition, the sun must strike 1t di-
rectly in order to produce this kind
Of injury. And this may occur at any
season Of the year, in the coolest days
Of winter as well as in the hottest OF
summer, the only difference being that
at the former season the injury Is as
much due to frost as to heat, while in
the latter case it is due to the baking
of the growing tissue-the cambium
layer of cells-underneath the bark
proper.
In the spring the trouble is mainly
due to alternate freezing and thawing
especially when unusually warm days
are followed by very cold nights. Since
young trees are readily excited into
growth and since they have not yet
formed protective layers of dead bark
they are the ones that suffer most I'M
der these conditions, while older ones
are attacked most frequently during
the summer and the winter than are
young ones since these latter accom-
modate themselves more quickly to
changes of temperature, and are heat
ed through or cooled through. as the
case may be. Large trees become heat
ed during the winter upon the ex-
posed side only short distance in
bevond the center, are slow to cool
down after sunset and thus keep the
heated southern side pretty warm I'M
til the temperature has sunk well
down. At this time the temperature
of the whole trunk is about equal and
the outside layer as almost suddenly
under the influence of frost. Whether
the trees be young or old it is the I'M
seasonablt activity of the cambium or
growth layer followed by frost that
does the damage during the winter and
the spring. Injuries Of this nature sell
dom occur during the autumn prob
ably because the trees are preparing
for their winter rest and because the
weather conditions are less favorable
to plant growth than in the spring.
Recent transplanting, overpruning,
protracted drouth may often bring
about injuries by sun-scald since such
produce check upon the upward flow
OF sap and thus allow the growing
layer to become over-heated-a diff
lferent cause but producing practical
ly the same effect. Sun-scald may,
however, be readily prevented by
shading the bark in some way. Boards,
either single and driven into the
ground like stakes, or nailed together
like eaves-troughs and tied to the body
of the tree; hay and straw ropes
wound round the trunk; screens of
lath, ETC., are often effectively used.
A cheap and good one may be made
of rye straw stood upright against the
trunk and held in place by twine. This
will last four or five years at cost
of about one cent per tree. And a
still cheaper one is to plant few rye
seeds at the base of the trunk letting
the stalks stand where they grow.
They will reseed the ground so that
further attention will be unnecessary.
Grating tips of twigs to form a shade
is a good practice as is also the grow
ing of a sprout from the base OF the
trunk as commonly done in Florida
orange orchards. All these are good,
cost little and will prevent serious
loss