346 ANNUAL REPORT 



trees right off. It would seem that if the sap freezes it would 

 become more and more solid, and when the sun thaws it out and 

 the bark begins to split, sunscald would set in. We think it is 

 the effect of the sun in March that kills the trees. 



Mr. Dartt. My theory is that the extreme cold kills the tree, 

 or it becomes almost dead. It is then in the condition of a very 

 sick man; it needs care and nursing. This protection on the 

 south side affords a shade and a protection from the effects of the 

 extreme heat of the sun. These extremes of heat and cold have 

 a bad effect on trees. They may stand one extreme, but if ex- 

 posed to both it may prove too much. 



Mr. Pearse said in the winter the moisture was constantly 

 passing off, and it was the starch which supported the life of the 

 tree. 



Mr. Frankland. Is there an evaporation from the trees all the 

 time! 



Mr. Pearse. All the time; unless trees are very large and 

 the proper amount of food is supplied, in our long winters the 

 trees become exhausted and when the starch is gone the tree dies 

 from starvation. I have examined the wood with a microscope. 

 The south side of the tree will be entirely exhausted while there 

 is a supply of food on the north side. 



Mr. Barrett. What is your remedy ? 



Mr. Pearse. Select trees that have a capacity for storing food. 

 Southern trees are not prepared to stand our winters as they 

 do not have the proper cell structure. Trees have to store 

 up nutriment for several months, and need to be fed the same 

 as animals. 



Mr. Dartt. If the trees haven't enough food stored up how 

 are they going to get it? 



Mr. Pearse. During the growing season there isn't one parti- 

 cle of nourishment stored up; it all goes to the growth of wood 

 and fruit. This laying up of food for winter supply commences 

 after the growth of wood is done. 



Mr. Dartt. Do you say there is no life in the tree in the winter? 



Mr. Pearse. Yes, there is. Vegetation commences in the 

 spring; life commences in the spring. In getting hardy varie- 

 ties, we must get those that are capable of storing up food sufii- 

 cient to run them through our long winters. 



Mr. Frankland. My trees came through the Manitoba winter 

 last year and it got down to forty degrees, and the glass got dis- 

 couraged; we couldn't tell how much further excepting with a 

 spirit glass; but there was no protection excepting a mound of 



