78 BIGGI/S ORCHARD BOOK 



When fall conies, be sure to clean up all trash in the orchard. 

 Mow the weeds (there shouldn't be any). Burn all rubbish. 

 Then the owls, hawks, cats and crows can readily see and catch 

 all field mice. 



Trees which have been completely girdled by mice or rab- 

 bits, can often be saved by means of bridge grafting. (See Chap- 

 ter II.) Partially-girdled trees should be bandaged with cow 

 manure and burlap. 



An experienced orchardist says that it is an excellent plan 

 to leave the clippings under the trees in the winter when prun- 

 ing an orchard, so that mice and rabbits will eat such tender 

 twigs instead of gnawing at the tree trunk itself. 



Dormant buds : Sometimes every fruit bud or blossom on a 

 tree will seem to be killed by cold, and yet to most folks' sur- 

 prise a moderate crop of fruit results. How? By means of the 

 dormant (undeveloped) buds on the trees. When normal buds 

 are killed, the trees often force forward the dormant ones in 

 time partially to supply the deficiency. 



Good drainage in the orchard is essential to success. I,ike 

 human beings, fruit trees can not stand wet feet. In the fall a 

 furrow-ditch plowed between tree rows, or wherever needed, 

 may help to insure better drainage conditions during the winter 

 and early spring. See that tile drain outlets do not become 

 obstructed ; to keep out small animals, fasten wire netting over 

 each outlet. 



Fruit buds : These are apt to be more plump than leaf buds, 

 and are therefore usually easily recognized. Slice a fruit bud 

 through the centre, lengthwise ; if it is alive, the interior is 

 greenish-yellowish in appearance ; if dead, the heart is black- 

 ened, even though the remainder of interior looks all right. 

 Frozen buds should be thawed out for several days before 

 making this test. 



Severe pruning-back is the most effective treatment for badly 

 frozen very young peach trees, etc. Moderate cutting-back is 

 best for less seriously affected young trees, -and also for badly 

 injured old peach trees, etc. Citrus trees, etc., will often sprout 

 again from a mere stump. Give all frozen trees a fair chance ; 

 never pull out a tree until it has had an opportunity to recover. 

 Nature sometimes performs wonders in this line in one or two 

 seasons. 



Farmers who have been putting axle grease on their trees to 

 protect them from rabbits, sheep and vermin, should not do so. 

 It is not a good plan. The sun shining on the greasy bark drives 

 the grease into the tree and may kill it. The best thing to use is 

 beef blood, such as is easily obtained in any slaughter house ; 

 then mix it thoroughly with clay and wood ashes. The ashes 

 act as a germicide, while the clay forms a paste which prevents 

 the blood being readily washed off by the rains. 



