Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-03-21
Bridge Grating of Girdled Trees.

Every winter rabbits and mice take
a heavy toll from young fruit trees
in West Virginia As the SHOWS melt
away the ragged white trunks appear
where the bark has been eaten away.
This injury usually means the death
of the tree unless simple repair work
in the form of bridge grating is prac-
ticed. Bridge grating differs from
the usual form of grating in that both
ends of the cion are inserted into the
trunk to form a real bridge over the
girded section. The cions should be
collected at once while the buds are
still dormant and stored in a 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 TO 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 a single ,r0kc of a sharp knife.
This cut should leave smooth, bev-
eled face about an inch and quarter
in length. The cionnow must bemeas-
ured by placing the heel Of the bevel
at the lower edge of the girdled place
and making the cion at the upper edge
of the girdle. At this marka cut should
be started 10 give bevel exactly like
the first and on the same side of the
shoot. The cion is now finished and
should be from tip to tip about two
and a half or three inches longer than
the space 10 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 cion is then
inserted under the bark at the lower
slit and. with the beveled face against
the wood. is showed gently down un-
Ill the heel Of the bevel 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 middle with the other hand.
II may thus be bent bow-shaped un-
til the upper end enters the upper slit
and is forced into position beneath
the bark
Both ends should then be nailed in
place with small brads or cigar hox
nails. More cions should be added un-
til they are spaced at intervals Of ~
or , inches all around the trunk. When
all are in place, string should be wrap
ped above and below the girdle 10 hold
the flaps Of bark down on the cions.
Both ends Of the cion should be cover
ed with wax TO exclude the air. Alco-
holic wax applied with brush is the
cheapest and most convenient kind the
writer has ever used but any wax will
be suitable. The bare wood OF the gir-
die should DC painted or covered with
alcoholic wax TO prevent drying, check
ing and subsequent decay. After
growth is we'll started the strings above
and below the girdle should be cut TO
| prevent binding.
The formula for alcoholic wax given
below will make about quart and will
be sufficient for approximately twenty
small trees.
Powdered resin, one pound.
Beef taIlow, one ounce.
Denatured alcohol, one pint
Melt the tallow in a kettle; pour in
the resin; and cook over a slow fire
until all the resin is melted. Take the
kettle we'll away from the FIRE and add
the alcohol, slowly at first and then
more rapidly as the violent boiling OF
the alcohol subsidies. AS the alcohol
is being added the wax should be stir
red vigorously. Put away in tightly
corked vessel till ready for use. Al
coholic wax is one Of the best coverings
for tree wounds requiring protection.