Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1910-03-10
Trees MAY Be SAVED
HOW TO HANDLE FRUIT TREES
INJURED BY The RABBITS
M. 3. Waite, Patholosist, Gives Elk.
pert Advice on the Best Man
err to Save Fruit Trees.

Damage to fruit trees by the rab-
bits seems to be general all over the
southern part of Idaho. For the ben
eft OF those who have had trees
damaged by these pests; and there
are in this section many who have
sustained much damage during the
past winter, we reprint the following
article from the Rupert Record:
1t would be hard to estimate the
damage done to young fruit trees on
this tract by jackrabbits during the
past winter. Fifteen hundred apple
trees belonging to Mr. Benson, near
Acequia, were completely barked by
the pests, and this is no exceptional
case. Many settlers supposed that
rabbit fneces would keep out the
rabbits, but the snow has drifted so
deep that they were able to walk
right over the fences on the drifts.
Settlers who have suffered damage
in this way have been seeking infor
nation as to what could be done to
save the trees after they had been
barked by the rabbits. o. f. Smith,
the Blackfoot nurseryman, who was
in Rupert last week, gave some val
liable advice on this subject. He
states that if the young trees are cut
off close to the ground. they are al
most certain to sprout up. In some
cases there will be two or three
sprouts. All Of these should be per
mitted to grow until it is seen which
is the most vigorous, mad the Others
should then be cut out AS these
young shoots have exceptionally
strong roots, they will grow very
rapidly and in five years the tree
will be as far advanced as though
it had never been cut back.
Washington Experts Advice.
In line with Mr.. Smiths advice. w. |
II. Herman has received a letter
from the bureau Of plant industry al
Washington on the same subject |
which reads as follows:
Dear Sir: Your letter Of Febru |
airy 6, addressed to the honorable |
of agriculture, about young
apple trees which have been girdled |
b. rabbits, has been referred to
this office.
wherever the trees are not com |
pletely girIled careful painting with |
good white lead paint linseei oil. or
possibly better yet, with liquid graft |
ing wax or ordinary grating wax
slightly warmed will help in healing
over the wound and make the new !
trunk. Very young trees, one or two
years old, can often be cut off with
a sharp knife 2 to inches from
the ground or just below the girdle
and will throw out strong sprouts. By
driving stakes around these trees, or
otherwise protecting. and giving
high culture. buds will come during
he growing season. You may have
several twigs 3 to 4 feet, even 6 feet
nigh. 1t is better TO pinch back
h: undesirable twigs and give the
best sprout the lead In the next
springs pruning all can be cut off
1ut one sprout This might even
work on trees three to four yaers of
age. but there would be more loss
han on one to two yaer old trees.
Trees three to four years or older
IAN be saved by bridge grating. This
consists of cutting scions or twigs OF
any desirable variety, usually whips
l foot or more in length, and keeping
hem in a cool place until growth has
begun in the spring. Then use these
or bridge grating. AS soon as the
park will slip, or even before it viii
slip easily, cut a cross slit or both
vertical and cross slit in the bark
lear the edge of the wound, one
above and one below the space strip
ID of bark.
Then having cut the scions slightly
onger than this space, slip the ends
INTO the Sits and wax thoroughly and
lie. It is desirable to use, on six
nch tree, six scions for bridging oy-
n the injured spot.
You will get some idea Of grating
rom Farmers Bulletin No. 113, a
.opy Of which l take pleasure in
sending you under separate cover.
,ut most of this grating is OF differ
mt kinds. The scions should be
ut like "a in 2 on page 10.
Yours very truly.
NJ. B. WAITE.
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