Putnam patriot., 1920-04-02
Fruit Trees Cirdled


mice. There seems to have been more
injury caused by mice this winter than
usual. In the case of young trees, or
well-preserved old trees, girdlling pre-
sents rather serious condition, as
far as the future growth of the tree
is concerned.
Mice injury to fruit trees has not
confined itself to Windham County
by any means, but is present all over
the state The following article, it is
hoped. will give some idea of the
method used in taking care of this in
jury Bridge grating is very success
full where the gnawing has not occur
red too near the root system, so that
a point of contact with the bridge
graft is present.
In preparing the wound to receive
the crafts the injured parts should be
thoroughly cleansed, all dead tissue
cut away, and, if possible, the cleans
ed surface should be sterilized by
washing it with a solution of blchlorid
of mercury, copper sulphate, or SOME
other antiseptic. The irregular edges
of the bark at the upper and lower
margins of the wound should be cut
! back evenly.
The scions which form the bridge
should be selected from wood of the
previous seasons growth. Either
branches which grew the preceding
season or water sprouts that are only
a year old may be used.
/ 1t is important that the scions
| should be little longer than the
space that is to be bridged. This is
in order that the middle portion of the
scions when put in position shall arch
slightly over the central part OF the
wound.
Before being placed in position the
scions are beveled at each end, both
beveled surfaces being on she same
side of the scion. This beveling should
be done with dong, sloping cut, so
that the wedge-shaped ends thus form
ed will be relatively thin, to permit
their being thrust we'll under the bark
without danger of separating 1t I'M
duly from the cambium at the points
of insertion. The placing of the
scions in position is facilitated II the
bark at the margins of the wound Is
slit fer a short distance at the points
where the ends are to be inserted.
The number of scions required for
a bridge will depend largely upon the
size of the trunk. The larger the
number. the more nearly complete
will be the reservation of the connee-
ton between the parts above and be-
low the wound; but if placed toe close
together, the bark at the margins OF
the wound between the sclons VIII be
raised. The starting of the bark ex-
cent at the immediate points OF IN
sertion Of the seions must be ayoidea.
In placing the scions 1t Is OF the
greatest Importance that the eambium
of the scions which is exposed IN the
sloping cuts at the ends be pfouSht
into immediate contact with the cam
Hmm that lies under the bark at the
margins of the wounded area. The
/ union of scion and tree can occursoniy
where the cambium layers of the two
come together. The scions may be
secured in their proper POSITIONS II
need be, by driving small nan
through each end into the trung. ms
will aid in drawing the cambium OF
scion and trunk closely together
The operation is completed by
| thoroughly covering the area occupied
bv the ends of the scions and the mar
Gins Of the wound with grating wax,
strips of waxed cloth, or by some
other means that will adequately pre-
vent these parts from drying out.
Some operators cover the entire
wound. scions and all, with melted
wax.
| If the wound is mostly below the
surface of the ground good results
can be obtained by burying the in
iured parts in a mound of earth after
| the bridge grating has been eomplet-
| ed. This treatment partially excludes
! the air and aids in preventing undue
driving out of injured parts.
The Abingdon Community Commit
tee, composed of John R. Stromberg,
town director; Frank X. Haines, pro-
iect leader on fruit; Walter f. Brown,
poultry; Howard White, soils and
crops; and Frank Chism, dairying,
plan to meet for the discussion of the
Farmers Association program OF
work for the town of Pomfret