The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-01
Experience Is That They May BE
Kept on as Long as They
Will Last.
CHEAPER THAN WIRE SCREEN.
Usage of the Secretary of the Mis-
souri, Horticultural Society
Directions for Fitting
Them On.

Written for The Republic
Mr.. Frank Woodland. Golden Eagle.
ILL.,. writes: "Will you please reply in
The Republics Farm Visitor 10 the fol-
lowing questions: Would ii be safe and
best 10 put wood veneer tree protectors
on fruit trees and let them remain rs
long as they would last. or through all
seasons of the year: or. if put on in the
fall or spring. and let remain till. say.
August |. till danger of the horer beetles
laying their eggs was past, then re-
moved?
I'm the first place would the bark and
tree grow and be healthy with the light
and air shut away from them? and. in
the second ease. would not the bark be-
come so tender that when the veneer
WAS removed the sun would scaid and
ruin the tree? Is there any protector
tshOrt of wire screening which Is cost
lyl that can he used To keep off rabbits
in winter and horers from laying their
eggs in the bark in early summer? |
know that certain washes and white
washes are good fer the latter. but they
have 10 be put on and also renewed
when we are so busy with II multitude
of other duties that something that
could he applied at less busy time and
that would not be so costly rs wire
screen would he great help to the
small grower of fruit
There IL n difference of opinion rs to
the propriety or prudence of leaving the
wooden tree protectors over the bark as
long as they will last. Secretary Good
man of the Missouri State Horticultural
Society recommends that they he left or
continuously and in his extensive young
orchards practices doing so. OF course
the protectors must not encirclc the
trees too closely, and care must he
taken by banking Mt the collar and clos
ing the opening ut the top to prevent the
borer beetles from obtaining access to
the trunk Of the tree where the covering
does not touch 1t. but with these pre-
cautions 1t Is considered not only per-
fectly safe but advisable on more than
one account to keep the tree protectors
on continuously. In the summer they
not only exclude borers. but prevent
sunscald and danger from injury to the
bark when the orchard is cultivated and
In winter they render the young tree
safe from the cravings of rabbits.
A good many of the theories on plant
physiology of the earlier bOtanists have
been disprOved. to a greater or less eX-
lNht- NI'hlh lf'tht NtHtf. obt vi Ah'f7N
is that the bark requires light and air in
order that the tree may develop vigcr-
ously. that there is certain sort of
respiratory action through its pores
necessary to the vitality Of the tree.
The necessary smearing with soapy and
caustic washes. so long practiced as n
precaution against insect attack, GER
tainly closes all pores and in meas
IRE excludes both light and air almost
as much as is done by the veneer pro-
tectors. and yet many orchards, have
thriven under this treatment for many
years.
If it were not for the greater expense
the wire screening would seem prefer
able. since it admits the light and air
but 1t has not been found so dependable
n precaution as the wooden wrappers.
In view. therefore. of the experience of
many Of our largest orchartlists 1t seems
quite safe to the health Of the tree 20
leave the protectors on as long as they
last NJ. L. NJ.