Wyoming Experiment Station. 



PROTECTION OF YOUNG TREES. 



For the first two or three years it is wisdom and economy 

 to place some form of protection about the newly planted 

 tree. This is especially true if it be planted on the street, 

 where the town cow rubs it and horns it, and then walks astride 

 of it to brush off the flies. By this treatment the roots are in 

 one place today, another tomorrow, and if this alternating rota- 

 tion be long continued, to have planted it were a waste of time 

 and money. If by any chance the tree survives for a time, 

 the abrasions of its bark give rise to sores, from which it never 

 recovers. But whether planted on the street or under fence, 

 a stay is of much value. While the soil is loose and the roots 

 not established, high winds sway the tree back and forth, and 

 make the establishment of a system of rootlets and root hairs 

 an impossibility. 



The form of the protector will depend upon the object in 

 view. If it is merely a support, a straight pole of suitable 

 height set firmly in the ground is sufficient. To this the tree 

 is fastened by a band of rope, leather or cloth, padded with 

 cotton or wool or other soft material. This may also be con- 

 verted into a guard against animals by placing a small circle 

 of wire netting around the tree, fastening the wire to the 

 vertical pole. 



The form of guard usually seen is the box-guard, made 

 of narrow boards and enclosing the tree to a height of five feet 

 or more. Mere protection against stock may also be secured 

 by one or two strands of barb-wire stretched either side of the 

 rows of trees. This may be accomplished with either one or 

 two rows of posts. If but one row be used, the posts are set in 

 line with the trees, and one or two transverse bars about five 

 feet in length are nailed to the posts. Upon the ends of these 

 the wires are stretched. 



PRUNING. 



Three things may be attained by pruning, viz., symmetry 

 of form, health of the tree, and rapidity of growth. The skill- 



