The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-29
rAhlns ona- VI oh.oARDs.
Protect Your Fruit Trees from
Rodents Inis Winter.

In protecting fruit trees from rab-
bits and other rodents, | first clear
the vicinity of the base of the tree
of all rubbish Then | remove some
of the dirt from around the base of
the tree. After that / take a strip
of cloth 30 inches long and n inches
wide and begin as low on the trunk
OF the tree as possible, wrapping the
trunk tightly with the cloth, drawing
1t a little diagonally upward as
wrap. If 1t is started right it will
inclose the trunk 1S or 20 inches high.
| then fasten tie strip and put back
he clean dirt around the trunk of the
Tree. | have found this to be a good
way to protect the tree from rabbits
and mice.
ter, but it is more expensive. have
occasionally had rabbits bark trees
early in The fall, and nave had large
per cent. Of nursery stock and young
set trees ruined by mice in the early
all, even before FROST, says a writer In
Farmers Review, but only in times
)f drought, and that on land that was
rashy, weedy or grassy think they
nav the bark for the moisture
hey obtain in 1t, rather than for the
food.
| have never been annoyed by the
mice on clean nursery land, as no
rodent will tarry long where he has
no shelter. The rodent naturally
seeks shelter on weedy or grassy
and and will live on what he can find
IN the vicinity. | have had trees that
tare newly set in the orchard and
hich we're mulched with manure
Jarked six inches below the surface
Of the mulching. SO | believe that
man should either keep the land
clean or protect the trees from early
fall till late spring
AS to the age at which trees are
most likely to be attacked find that
he younger the tree and the tenderer
the bark, the more tikely is the tree
be attacked. If the bark of a tree
e1ains tender, no tree, whatever its
age, is immune from the attack OF
lice and other rodents In orchard
where the ground was covered with
ubb.sh, grass and weeds have seen
rees ~ to Is years old ruined by
both rabbits and mice.
Pear trees and apple trees are most
'ften attacked by rabbits and mice.
Then come the peach and plum trees.
The bark on the latter trees becomes
rigid earlier than the bark on apple
and pear trees and that is why the
plum and peach trees are not so often
Ittacked.
For protection, my neighbors have
used strips of CLOTH wire screen, stub.
bic or cornstalks tied around the
trunks OF young trees. The latter is
protection against the rabbits, but
! think II is harbor for the mice
The strip of cloth is as effective as
anything ] have tried and much the
cheaper. II is easily applied and
costs about nothing, as any old cast.
off clothes will furnish the material
| know of no one using the liquid
wash here to protect the trees against
rodents.
For the other enemies of fruit trees
| usn a wash consisting of a pretty
strong solution of soap and water for
both trunk and branch. | find that
this keeps the tree healthy and Wig
orous, and induces a strong growth.
In climates or regions where deep
SHOWS fall and lie for long periods
the trees should be protected above
the snow, as in times when the snow
stays for long periods is when the
rabbits do the greatest damage.
Thorough and clean cultivation for
both the nursery and newly set
richard will always be worth the
abor applied. Success is not possible
in the orchard If careless methods are
| followed, any more than If careless
methods are followed in other kinds
of business.