Orchard Culture — General Statements. 



dug, after which the board is replaced, wheu the bottom of 

 the notch will mark the phice for the tree. 



28. The care of young orchard trees. Recently-planted 

 trees require frequent examination. If the buds do not 

 open promptly, the top should be further reduced. Un- 

 desirable shoots and branches should 

 be promptly rubbed off, and close 

 watch should be kept for harmful 

 insects. Shading of the trunk, in 

 trees that do not start vigorously, is 

 important in localities where the 

 sun's rays shine with great intensity, 

 as in the Mississippi Valley and other 

 central continental regions. Wire 

 netting, straw, or screens made of 

 lath or cornstalks may be used to 

 pi-otect the trees against sun-scald, 

 damage from bark-eating animals, 

 aud in a measure from damage from 

 whiffletrees. The lath screen (Fig. 3) 

 is probably most durable, but it does 

 not readily adjust itself to different 

 heights of trunk and is too heavy 

 for small trees. Rye straw placed 

 vertically about the trunk and per- 

 mitted to extend up among the 

 branches, tied on by three or more 

 bands of wool twine, makes a very 

 ■cheap and effective protection that 

 will often last as long as protection is needed. Straw 

 protectors do not appear to harbor harmful insects. 

 Water-proof paper answers well for winter, but should 



Fig. 3. Tree incl 

 lath protector. 



