Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1918-03-09
BRIDGE GRATING
OF GIRDLED TREES
BY w. H. Alderman. Professor
of Horticulture.

hf iOApNiuS timely OWi4eiiH Is DN
Prof W, II Alderman, horticultufist
Ct West Virginia University
Every winter rabbits and mice
take 4 heavy toll from young fruit
trees in West Virginia AS the SHOWS
melt away the ragged white trunks
appear where the bark has been eat
en- away This injury usually means
tie death Of the tree unless simple
repair work in the form ,of bridge
grating is praeticed Bridge grating
differs from the usual form of graft
ing IN that both ends of the cion are
inserted into the trunk To form a
real bridge over the girdled section
The cions should be collected at
once while the buds are still dor
mant and stored in damp, cool
place to prevent drying out.
The actual grating can best be
done about the time the terminal
buds of the trees are beginning "a
break. The first thing to be done is
to trim off the edges of the wound
] with sharp knife so that a clean-cut
shoulder of fresh bark is exposed. A
suitable cion stick is chosen and The
lower end cut away with single
stroke OF a sharp knife This cut
should leave smooth beyeled face
about an inch and cuarter inl
length. The cion mus now be meas
ured by placing the heel OF the bevel
! at the lower edge Of the girdled
place and marking the cion at the
upper edge of the girdle. AT this
mark q cut should be started to give
| z bevel exactly like the first and on
tie same side Of the shoot. The ciun
/ Il now finished and should be from
! tip to tip about two and half or
three inches longer than the space
/ to be bridged.
A slit in the bark at the lower and
another at the upper side OF the grid.
led place should be made and the
bark loosened slightly at each side
Of the Sits. The lower end of the
fcion is then inserted under the bark
at the lower slit and with the bevel-
cd face against the wood Is showed
gently down until the heel of the bev-
81 Is flush with the edge Of the girdle.
Now hold the lower end firmly IN
place with thumb of the left hand
and grasp the cion about in the mid |
Gle with the other hand II may thus
! be bent bow-shaped until the upper
end enters the upper slit and is fore
ed into position beneath the bark.
Both ends should then be nailed in
place with small hrads or cigar box
nails. More cions should be added
until they are spaced at intervals oil
IL or inches all around the trunk |
When all are in place. string should
be wrapped above and below the
girdle to hold the flaps Of bark down
on the cions. Both ends Of the zion
should be covered with wax to ex.
clude the air. Alcoholic wax applied
with brush is the cheapest ana
most convenient kind the writer
/ has ever used but any wax will be
suitable. The bare wood Of the cir.
Gle should be painted or covered
with alcoholic wax to prevent dry
ing, checking and subsequent decay.
After growth IS well started tht
strings above and below the girdle
should be cut to pevent binding.
| The formula for alcoholic wax giv-l
en- below will make about quart
and will be sufficient for approx
mately twenty small trees.
Powderea resin, ID.
Beef Tallow. l o..
Denatured alcohol pit.
Melt the tallow in kettle; potr
III the resin; and cook over slow
fire until all the resin is melted TAX
the kettle well away from the firel
and add to the alcohol SLOWLY al
first and then more rapidly as the
violent boiling of the alcohol sub
sides. AS aisa alcohol iY being added
the wax slinrIi BE stirred vigorously
Put away IN t;1htly corked vessel
till ready for use Alcoholic Wax Is
one Of the best coverings for tree
wounds requiring protection.