106 State Horticultural Society. 



In a prairie region like Iowa, protection from the wind is important. 

 This refers not only to the matter of wind falls, but also to the protection 

 of the plant from the drying influences of winds in winter. A low 

 headed tree offers less leverage, hence less wind fall ; and the head being 

 closer to the ground receives proportionally more protection from desic- 

 cation. 



A serious loss to young trees is by sunscald. This usually occurs 

 on bright, warm spells in early spring, and the injury is generally on the 

 south or west side of the trunk. Heat stimulates activity. During the 

 winter season the protoplasm is in a dormant state, and while in this con- 

 dition is uninjured by cold. On a bright, warm day, on account of the 

 rise in temperature, the protoplasm becomes active. At night the tem- 

 perature suddenly falls, catching the protoplasm in this active condition 

 and it is destroyed. The live bark dies and partially peels away in 

 patches. A low head has less trunk exposure, hence less opportunity for 

 such injury. The top also shades the stem better, and hence aft'ords 

 a protection not received with high headed trees. 



No fruit grower who is in the business for the money can afford to 

 omit spraying as one of his orchard operations. Low headed trees can 

 be sprayed much more effectively and also cheaper than high ones. 



At gathering time there is also an important advantage. One man 

 on the ground can do the work of two on ladders. 



Perhaps the reader is beginning to ask if low headed trees are such 

 an advantage, why haven't we had them long ago, or do they have dis- 

 advanta.ges also, that have not been mentioned? Yes and No. Orchard 

 cultivation is an essential to good fruit growing, and a high headed tree 

 is very much more convenient in this respect. It is likely in this one 

 fact that we find the practice of high heading so prevalent in older sec- 

 tions. With the old-time implements and harness it meant slow work 

 and lots of lifting, to work around low headed trees. The fellow who 

 lias had such an experience is very strongly tempted to lop off a few 

 of the lower branches the first opportunity. 



Better types of orchard harness and implements have remedied this 

 to a large degree, and there is no longer ground for complaint from this 

 source. The traceless harness does aw-ay with single-trees, which skin the 

 bark and are very useful in the orchard. 



Some of the recent types of orchard tools are also a great convenience. 

 A form of the Acme Harrow with wheels in front and handles behind, 

 is easily run about by the driver, and is an excellent tool. 



The Extension Disk Harrow, which is provided with an extension 

 whereby the sides can be spread, thus enabling the driver to cut under 



