314 



FRUIT AND ITS CULTIVATION, 



strips of wood nailed to the posts may be substituted. 

 Various other contrivances are resorted to, including iron 

 tree-guards, which are rather expensive, must be well 

 fixed, and are somewhat difficult to take apart when no 

 longer wanted. Many farmers are content to heavily sur- 

 round the tree stems with whitethorn bushes, and these 

 answer fairly well if renewed as often as they become 

 rotten. 



Fig. 137. GRASS ORCHARD OF STANDARD APPLE TREES. 



J, Large spreading varieties. K, Dwarf growing varieties. 



In each and every case keep the tree carefully fastened 

 to the central stake, large numbers having been seriously 

 injured by being allowed to rub against hard substances. 

 All ought to be gone over annually, and all fastenings 

 renewed. In order to keep rabbits and hares from the 

 stems, enclose the lower part of the " cradles," or other 

 forms of tree-guards, with lin.-mesh galvanised wire net- 



