-2- 



girdled trees vary considerably. On some trees the foliage and fruit appear normal; 

 foliage may be light in color but friiit size normal on some trees j and on other 

 girdled trees the foliage may be light in color and sparse and the fruit small. 



The reason why completely girdled trees leaf out and often fruit the first 

 season after the bark and cambium layer are destroyed around the tree trunk is 

 because v/ater and other materials which are taken up by the roots from the soil 

 pass up to the leaves through the wood. In the leaves the water and the carbon, 

 dioxide takmfrom the air by the leaves are united chemically, through the action 

 of sunlight, into glucose sugar. This sugar is the starting point for the synthe- 

 sis of all other carbohydrates and in turn for proteins, oils, waxes, and other 

 organic compounds which make up the bulk of the apple tree. After the manufacture 

 of the plant foods by the leaves, they move to other parts of the tree through the 

 phloem which is found in the bark. From the facts presented, it can be seen that 

 complete girdling will not deprive the top of the tree of water and other materials 

 necessary for the manufacture of plant foods and that these materials will be trans- 

 ported to all plant parts above the injured area# 



Reserve food stored in the roots enable the roots to function for some time, 

 often a year or two^ thus keeping the top of the tree alive. However, a completely 

 girdled tree , unless repaired , ^vill eventually die from starvation of ^e roots' 

 for carbohydrates I 



Russeting 



The number of russeted apples evident in our orchards this year makes the 

 maintenance of 90 to 95 P©r cent relative humidity in apple storages during the 

 19^6 - 1957 storage period more important than ever. Russeted fruits shrivel 

 readilyl Lacking the cuticle which serves to protect the fruit against loss of 

 water and various external injuries, evaporation and water loss from the russeted 

 area are greater than takes place in non-russeted fruit, 



— W, J. Lord 

 //////////////// 



LEGAL LIABILITY RISKS AND INSURANCE PROTECTION FOR FARI.iERS 



In the previous tv/o articles, I discussed the questions of personal liability 

 and liability t o employees . This discussion will outline the questions of motor 

 vehicle liability , 



MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY 



As owners and users of automobiles and trucks on and off the farm, farmers 

 may be held liable if operation of their vehicles results in personal injviry or 

 damage to property of others. Loss of drivers' license and registration plates 

 can also result if you are involved in accident or lavf violation on public high- 

 ways. 



