FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 76 



of the branch, as this does not spread and crack the bark as much and 

 facilitates the healing of the wound. The wire is then inserted and 

 twisted until taut. Unless the tree has many framework branches two 

 wires are sufficient. 



The screw-eve will hold an immense weight when first put in and after 

 remaining a season or two until the bark has had a chance to grow 

 over them, the danger of pulling is very slight. This method is more 

 practicable in rather small to medium sized trees. It does away with 

 the necessity of looking after them each year, in order to see that the 

 wire is not choking the limb it is around, besides being more quickly and 

 easily applied and less harmful to the tree. 



This particular orchard averaged two barrels of choice fruit to the 

 tree and came through the season without the loss of a branch of any 

 size, although dozens of them would have broken down if it had not 

 been for the braces. 



This method works equally well for peaches, but if it has been allowed 

 to split the trunk must bo'^ bolted as well as wired. Another method 

 worth carrying out is that of twisting the young suckers, from the dif- 

 ferent main branches about each other, making a living brace; often 

 they will live and continue to grow as long as the tree, forming a strong 

 brace several inches in diameter. I know of two orchards where this 

 has been carried out very successfulh'. 



In the case of large mature trees weakened by bearing many heavy 

 loads of fruit, and tiie frosts and winds of many seasons the branches 

 must be chained together, with props from the ground to the weakened 

 limbs if circumstances permit. 



In this work prevention of breaking and splitting should always be in 

 mind and is much easier than mending after the damage is done. 



With the main branches distributed so as to have as few weak trees 

 as possible, and careful thinning practices, based uj^on the strength of 

 the tree, followed by a good method of bracing, commencing when the 

 trees are young thousands of trees might be saved in Michigan orchards 

 every year. The saving in oue season would be many times the cost of 

 the iabor and materials it took to safegTiard them. 



JUST A FARMER.. 



MR. GRANGER WHITNEY^ WILLIAMSTON. 



Just a farmer in a clearing on the bleak New England shore: 

 In the woods the treacherous red skin lurks and hunger shakes the door 

 To the eastward lies the stormy reach of Massachusetts Bay: 

 To the westward through the wilderness an empire spreads away. 

 Who will win it from the red skin who with blindness bars the road, 

 For the future of humanity who will bear the heavy load? 

 Just a farmer. 



Just a farmer following Braddock through the Pennsylvania wilds 

 With his knowledge and his wood lore he travels with the guides. 

 His uniform, a hunting shirt, his discipline, his sense. 

 He has neither pomp nor tactics but energy intense. 



