Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-08
/ he
Trees GirdIed by Rabbits.

An Iowa subscriber writes that the
rabbits have gnawed his one ana two
year old apple trees several feet above
the ground The trees had been wrap
ped but the snow drifted around them
so deep that the rabbits could reach
above the wrapping. The outside bark
only seems to be injured on these. He
asks IL it would be better to cut them
off and graft again. and IL so, now THIS
work should be done.
Apple trees which have been plant
ed but one or two years may pc cut
back so as to form new head WITH
out retarding very greatly the growth
of the tree. In the case OF the trees
referred to, therefore. 1t would be very
easy to form new heads in all cases
where this appears to be necessary.
This may be done by cutting the top
of the tree off just below the place
that is girdled and allowing all shoots
which appear on the trunk TO grow
during the following season. The next
spring after the danger of very severe
winter weather has passed the limbs
which are best suited for forming the
head of the tree may be selected ana
eli others cut out 1t is good plan
ia close the cut surface to all wounds
which are made in this way by cover
ing them with paint or some other
material which will prevent the tissues
from drying out and protect tfem from
the entrance of disease germs.
Where the rabbits have not gnawed
thru the inner bark or the cambiun
LAYER the girdled surface may be COW
cred with clay or grating wax to pro-
tect 1t until the new bark is formed.
II is generally well known that the new
growth starts each year In the cam
blum LAYER. that is to say In the layer
between the bark and older WOOD. IL
this cambium layer has been destroyed
by the rabbits in such q manner as 10
completely girdle the tree. would adj
wise the ordinary orchardist to cut Off
the top and form new head IN the
manner above described. Those who
have had experience in grating might
bridge the girdled part by inserting
scions with the lower ends below and
the upper ends above the girdled por-
tion S. A. BEACH.
Iowa Agricultural College.
successfuI Corn Growing in Missouri.
How to grow Missouri corn was
the subject Of a days discussion at the
Ia rmers. convention in Columbia this
week Dean II. j. Waters OF the Agrl-
cultural College opened the discussion.
Keen plant food on the'farnl, ne urged.
Move managers, stop the prodlgious
waste. adopt systematic rotation. An
elastic rotation is best, but system
attic rut like rotation is better than
present Missouri plan of no rotation.
At least one year In four use ci1.----
and as little timothy as possible. Barn
vard manure is the best fertilizer.
Commercial fertilizers can only be
used with profit in Missouri upon thin
or worn out land, not upon black pral-
RE land. THE fertilizers should have
liberal quantity of potash and cheap
nhosphorous Little difference has
been shown by experiments between
spring and fall blowing. Much I'M
necessary work is done in huskine,
corn. The thickness OF planting
should vary with the richness of land.
suckers depend on various conditions.
Experiments have shown for every 100
plants. four stalks in a hill, suckers;
three in a hill, twenty-five suckers;
two in a hill, seventy-six suckers. and
one in a hill, 1875 suckers Some va
rieties of corn have more suckers than
others. Dent corn has the least TILL
age is for two purposes: First, to
| keep down weeds; second, to conserve
moisture II land IS properly prepared