The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-01-08
Sun Scoid and Root Rot.

In some sections where the climate is
severe, fruit trees are often seriously in
Jured by one or both of these troubles.
Both are common to trees from one TO
four years old.
The term "sun-scald" is applied to the
cracking of the bark which occurs on the
south and southwest sides of the trunks,
generally within one foot of the ground.
The form referred to is caused by the
alternate freezing ard thawing of the
sap, and it is especially noticeable upon
trees with tall trunks and which lean to-
wards the north aud northeast. In sec
tlons where this trouble is common it is
then especially desirable that the heads
of the trees be formed low and that the
trees lean slightly to the southwest. In
most sections the prevailing high winds
are from that direction and the chances
are that in two or three years the trees
will stand erect, while if planted with
the trunks vertical, they will lean to the
northeast and thus increase the danger
of injury. 70 still further protect the
trunks from injury it i $ good plan to
use the wooden veneers that are made for
this purpose. These will not only pre-
vent scald, but will keep away field
mice and greatly lessen the danger from
rabbits. If left around the trees during
the early summer they will also protect
the trunks from the attacks of borers.
A fairly good substitute for the veneers
IS ordinary building paper, but as tar is
likely to injure the bark tarred paper
should not be used. When trees have
been injured by sun-scald it is good
plan TO cover the trunks with lead and
oil paint to lessen the evaporation of
moisture FROM the wood Ii the bark is
loose it should be cut away before the
paint is applied. When near the ground
it is often possible to cover the injured
bark by banking earth a bout the trees,
especially if the soil is loose about the
trees. This is always a good plan with
young trees, as it will prevent the accu-
mutation of water in the cavity, and the
injury that may follow from the forma-
ton of ice.
Under similar conditions to the above,
another form of sun-scald may occur
when the trees are suffering from drouth. |
The injury is then due directly to the
drying out of the bark owing to the
small amount of water the roots can get
from the soil This results in the break
ing of the bark into small squares, while /
when the injury is due to freezing there .
are long vertical cracks in the bark. The /
same preventive measures should be .
taken for both forms of sun-scald.
In the northern states thousands of .
srees are destroyed annually by what is
commonly known as root rot. This
disease is especially troublesome in cult
waited orchards where the trees have
made a strong growth and where the
ground has no covering. The injured
trees are generally most numerous upon
ridges where the snow has blown off, thus
allowing the frost to.penetrate to a con-
siderable depth. In severe cases the
trees start slowly in the spring. the
growtl seems weak and the leaves and
bark soon shrivel. If the trees are not
killed outright they make but short
growth, have an unhealthy appearance,
and perhaps die during the following
winter. The best preventive in cult
vated orchards is to provide some sort of
protection for the roots. A cover crop
of barley or oats, sown during July or
August, will do much to lessen the in
jury, as it will not only afford some pro-
lection itself, but it will hold the leaves