Repairing Girdled Trees. 289 



of woody matter above the girdle, whilst the por- 

 tion below will not increase in diameter. This 

 is well known to all observing fruit-growers. 

 Fig. 45 shows a deposit of woody matter above a 

 girdle caused by a label wire. After awhile the 

 younger wood is apt to become hard and dry, pre- 

 venting the upward passage of nourishment taken in 

 by the roots, and the tree then starves to death ; or, 

 as in the case of the young tree shown in Fig. 45, 

 the top may become so heavy that the plant breaks 

 off at the point of constriction. It is, therefore, 

 evident that it is very necessary that the orchardist 

 give careful attention to his label wires, to prevent 

 them from doing great injury. It is always best 

 to take the labels from young trees when they are 

 set, and to depend upon a map record for the names 

 of the varieties. Or, if the label is left upon the 

 tree, it is best to hang it upon one of the minor 

 limbs, rather than upon the trunk. In adjusting the 

 label wire to the tree, it is important that only the 

 ends of the wire be twisted together, allowing thereby 

 a large loop in which the limb may expand. The 

 label may be held tightly to the limb by simply 

 pinching the wires together with the fingers. 



Trees which are freshly girdled in the growing 

 time of spring may be expected to heal over before 

 the season is over, if the girdled zone is not more 

 than four or five inches wide, and if the surface 

 of the wood, as already explained, is kept perfectl.v 

 fresh. It is generally best, however, if no connec- 

 tion of bark remains, to bridge over the girdle by 



