-5- 



How Much Damaf^e is Necessary to V/arrant Repair? 



Havf much of the trunk circioaf erence may have the bark removed and still leave 

 the tree capable of its functions is not loiown for certain, but it is estimated 

 that if the bark is removed from a quarter of the ^Tay around the trunk the tree 

 will be somewhat crippled. On the girdled side of the tree, the roots will even- 

 tually become starved since there is no appreciable lateral movement of food 

 materials. If the amoiont of removed bark and cambium is not great in extent, hov^- 

 ever, the uninjured cambium should form new wood and bark to replace that which 

 has been destroyed. Wound dressing in the early spring is always helpful even 

 to these less extensive injuries. 



It usually does not pay to bridge graft trees that have been completely or 

 almost completely girdled for a year or more. These trees are generally in such 

 a lovT state of vigor that they will not respond to the treatment. However, some 

 success has been reported when apple trees were bridge grafted the second spring 

 after T/inter injury to the trunk. 



In the case of complete girdling of the trunk, the trees may be treated in 

 any one of several different ways, the choice depending on the age of the tree, 

 species of tree, tree vigor, and the growers preference, 



Determirting the Treatment 



1, The tree may be pulled out and replaced by a better one, 



2, If the apple or peach tree is only one or two years old it may be cut off 

 two or three inches above the surface of the ground or below the girdled area. 

 Usually many shoots will develop from the remaining stub. One of these may be 

 selected next spring and a new tree grown from it. Care must be taken, however, 

 to see that the shoot selected comes from above the union of the stock and scion, 

 otherwise the grovrer will get a seedling tree instead of a new tree of the variety 

 orginally set, 



3, If the apple tree trunk is one and a half to two inches in diameter, the 

 trunk may be cut off and two scions of the desired variety may be cleft grafted 

 into the trunk, 



k» When the trunks of girdled apple trees are more than tvro inches in diameter 

 and where the top is vforth SAving, bridge grafting is probably most feasible, 



$, Mihen the roots of an apple tree are so bad]^ ijijured that scions cannot be 

 readily attached to them, inarching should be done, 



6, Peach trees generally do not respond so satisfactorily to bridge grafting, 

 HoWBve-r, Prof, 0, C» Roberts stated that tie- has grafted peach tree&-stteee6eful3^ 

 with plum scions. 



Season for Repair Grafting 



Repair grafting should be performed yihen the bark is slipping readily which 

 is about the time the trees are starting grovrth. If and when attempting to bridge 

 graft the bark doesn't slip readily, the inlay graft may be used. 



