The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-22
BRIDGE GRAPHING
 FRUIT TREES
A Method of Saving Trees That Have Been Girdled By Mice or Rabbits or Seriously Injured By Blight or Other Diseases.

Washington, Feb. 22-Bridge graft ing, the use of scions or small limbs to connect the cambium above ana pe- low a large wound or g1rdled strlp' may be practiced successfully on a1- most any kind of fruit tree that can be tpropagated readily by graft1ng- It is l1sed more often with the apple than any other fruit, but pear trees often are treated in this way, especially In certain sections. There seems to be no reason why the method should not also be successful on plums and cher ries according to Farmers Bulletin No. 710, Bridge Grating, just issued bv the U s. Department Of Agr1cuI- ture Peaches, however, graft less readily and there may be some ques- ton as to the usefulness of the method in the case of this fruit. While seldom rsed on shade or other ornamental trees, the author, w. F. Fletcher, writes that this method of grating probably would prove successful in overcoming certain types of injuries to them.
 E Mechanical injuries which may be rernedied are usually inflicted by ami rnaIs by burrowing insects or by inn plernents carelessly used. Various dis eases, such as pear blight, also cause local injuries which may call TOT bridge grating. The trunks Of pear trees are not infrequentlyI completely
  Bridge grating, if done in time, how ever, may save the tree. The method also is useful when large areas of bark Ahave been killed by sun scald or other troubles The author of the bulletin points out, however, that protection Of trees against rabbits and mice and disease is, of course, better than hav- ing to bridge graft to overcome dam age.
 How to Bridge Graft.
 To be effective, bridge grating should be done in the spring before growth starts. though sometimes it can be done after growth starts if dormant scions for the purpose can be secured
 Prepare the wound in the tree by cutting away all dead tissue and thoroughly cleansing the injured parts. If possible, sterilize by washing with a solution of bich1oride of mercury, copper sulphate, or some other anti septic. The irregular edges of the bark above the gird1ed tract or wound should be cut back into an even edge, far. enough from the wound to make certain that healthy cambium is un- der the bark.
 For the grating, select scions from wood of the previous seasons growth, either, branches which grew the pre- ceding season. or water sprouts that L be a little longer than the space which is to be bridged, so they will arch slightly over the central part of the wound.
 BeveI the scions at each end on the same side of the scion with a long s1oping cut so that the edge-shaped ends thus formed will be relatively thi nand permit their being thrust well under the bark without danger of separating it undu1y from the cana blum at the points of insertion. The placing of the scions will be facilitated if the bark at the margins of the wound is slit for short distance at the points where the ends are to be inserted.
 Importance of Uniting Cambium
 In placing the scions it is of the greatest importance that-the cambium of the scions which is exposed in the sIoping cuts at the ends be brought into intimate contact with the cam blum that lies under the bark at the margins of the wounded area. The union of scion and rec can occur only where the cambium layers of the two come together. The scions may be secured in their proper positions, if need be, by driving small nail through each end into the trunk This will aid in drawing the cambiun of scion and trunk closely together. The operation is completed by thoroughly covering the area occupied by the ends of the scions and the margins of the wound with grating wax strips of waxed cloth, or by some other means that adequately will pre- vent these parts from drying out, Some operators cover the entire wound, scions and all, with melted wax. Where the bridged portion is -
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