THE TREE DOCTOR 



99 



cut and thrown under the trees to prevent the falling apples 

 from bruising'. Four years ago, all around Kent, ()., Apple trees 

 had what people called "twig-blight." It is produced in the 

 following manner : The orchard lands are covered with a sod ; the 

 roots come near the surface competing with the roots of the 

 grass for the moisture of summer rains. Being thus brought 



Photo 85 

 The Feeder Roots are just Under the Drip of the Branches. 



near the surface, the warm sun incites the roots to action pre- 

 maturely in spring. This forces out the buds too early. Then, 

 in May, there is usually a "dry spell." All growth, then, comes 

 nearly to a standstill. In June come the copious rains, accom- 

 panied by a high temperature, and I have seen Apple trees shoot 

 out, all over their tops, twigs ten or twelve inches long in ten 

 days. Then comes the dry weather, the roots become parched; 

 the tree cannot carry all the new growth, and most of these ten- 

 der, spasmodic shoots perish because it is utterly impossible for 

 the tree to sustain them. Now the howl goes up, "The Apple 

 trees are 'attacked' by 'twig-blight !' " 



