FRUIT IJOTES - September, I930 



W. K. Thieo 

 Extension Horticulturist 



Some Sugge nt ions on Salvagi n g H urr idans D amaged Apple Trees 



At' a recent meeting of New England 'Extension Horticultur- 

 ists in Worcester, current opinions on the salvaging of trees 

 were carefully sifted. Following is a brief outline of the con- 

 clusions reached: 



1. Fnich trees to salvage . 



Permanent trees 

 in good vigor, 



on deep, well drained soils, 

 of pi'ofitable varieties, 



on v/hich ^ to 2/3 of the leaves remain green until frosty 

 with not more tlmn -^ of the roots exposed, 

 are wo rth tr ying to sa.lva.ge . 



Filler trees 



which are not due to crov^d v/ithin ^ yeo.rc should be con- 

 sidered as permanent trees and treated as outlined above. 



2. Whi ch trees not to salvage 



Permanen t trees 



whose trunks are in a nearly horizontpl position and 



where serious root injury ic suspected, 



v>'ith more than 2/3 of the roots exposed, 



whose leaves wej^e dry and brown before frost, 



of unprofitable varieties, 



of poor vigor (due to mice, winter, disease or starvaticrV 



in very poor soils, 



that are past their prime, 



are probabl y not wo rth trying to sp.l v a.ge . 



Filler trees 



which are already crowding, 



which are sbout to crowd and have more than 1/3 of the 



roots exposed (more tha:! slightly dc.ma.ged), 



of poor vigor, 



of unprofitable varieties, 



are proba bly not worth trying to salvage. 



F urther S uggestion s 



Act' quickly. Tree roots are Injured when the tcm.perature 

 drops to 15° above zero. 

 Avoid bruising the b; rk of the tree. 



Before raising the tree dig undern •■th enough to permit the 

 roots to fa.ll back to tholr origin;.! position, 

 pull the tree bc.ck slowly to avoid more root breakage. 

 Puddle the soil around the roots or t;.;mp the sr 11 well to 

 a.void ail' pockets. 



After up-righting thj tree, anchor it securely, and filco guy 

 it toward the prevailing winds. 3 ^'^^•'11 placed v;iros arc ad- 

 vised. 



Issued by the Extension Service, Willa.ix''. A. l.Iunson, director, 

 in furtherance of Acts of Llay o and June 30, 191^. Massachusetts 

 State College, United St.-'.tes Department of Agriculture, a.nd County 

 Extension Services cooper;'.ting. 



