THE APPLE. 



83 



Fig. b7.— Showing meHtod of making lath 



wires are necessary to make the lath screens. The laths are left 

 one-fourth of an inch apart, and the wire is simply crossed between 

 the laths and not twisted. Methods of making it will readily sug- 

 gest themselves. It may be made on a common work-bench by the 

 device shown in F^g. 57, which is from an article by Prof. Goff, in 

 the Wisconsin Horticultural Report for 1891. J., J., A represent 

 nails in the bench to which are attached the wires. B^ the first 



lath put between the 



i J V —^ WW^-p wires and attached to 



1^ thespring stick, C, 



y ^ -^ which holds the wires 



^1 ]^ j ^ B -^ ^^ ^^^^^ taut while the other 



laths are inserted from 

 the end, and these are 

 always put under the 

 lower and over the up- 

 per wires, thus crossing 

 *'^'''^^'^- the wires. E show the 



end of spring stick and part of first lath held together with a 

 hooked wire. D shows lath screen partly made. The laths should 

 be long enough to reach nearly to the lower branches of the trees. 

 A bunch of hay may be stuffed in at the top to keep the protector 

 in place and keep it from rubbing the tree. The screens should be 

 left on until the wires rust off. Tar or tarred paper should never 

 be used in contact with the bark of apple trees. 



Protection by banking up the trunks 

 of young trees about one foot, on the 

 approach of winter, as shown m Fig. 58, 

 is a good practice. It protects the graft 

 and is a sufficient barrier against mice, 

 unless there is a deep fall of snow. This 

 is not a very laborious matter, for about 

 three spadesf ul of soil is enough for each 

 tree. When there is danger of mice 

 working under the snow trod it down 

 quite firmly around the trees. To guard 

 against mice and rabbits when not oth- 

 erwise protected, wash the stems with 

 thin whitewash thickened with copperas 

 and sulphur. If this is washed off by 

 rains renew the wash as often as neces- 

 sary. 



Protecting the trunks by box- 

 ing them up and then tilling the boxes 

 with earth, as shown in Fig. 53, is a method that is well worthy of 

 being adopted, especially by those who wish to grow apples in very 

 severe locations. Such treatment protects the trunk from sun- 

 scald, mice and rabbits, and also from Jrying winds, severe cold, 



Fig. 



58. — Apple tree banked 

 up for winter. 



