4 



English Orchards. 



intensified by moving the soil in spring might seriously injure 

 young trees planted then. 



Another frequent form of mismanagement has been the 

 omission to provide proper support and protection for young 

 trees by means of stakes, fences, or guards, with the 

 result that the trees have sustained lasting injuries from 

 animals grazed in the orchards and from the wind : 

 moreover, the strings or cords fastening young trees to 

 stakes or supports have been, in man3^ instances, allowed to 

 cut into their growing and continually swelling stems, 

 thereby causing deep scars, as well as unsightly swellings, 

 which check the flow of sap and afford suitable centres for 

 the attacks of the canker-fungus [Nedria ditissimd)^ and the 

 woolly aphis (American Blight, Schizoneura lanigera). 

 Bundles of thorns, furze, or faggot-wood, which were 

 sometimes tied round young trees to protect them, also 

 served as harbours for many species of insects which ravaged 

 the trees, and for all kinds of weeds which grew luxuriantly 

 and absorbed all the moisture from the soil around. In the 

 rare cases where substantial cribs or guards of split rails 

 were originally provided, these have been frequently permitted 

 to break down or decay, and, moved by every breeze, to rub 

 against the tender rmd of the trees, thus causing abrasions 

 of the cortex, and deep wounds in the cambium layer, which 

 give rise to ugly swellings and excrescences favouring 

 the settlement of insects and fungi of various kinds. Very 

 many of the large old apple and pear trees in our orchards 

 show plainly upon their trunks the marks of this neglect, 

 which has made them more or less deformed- and affected 

 their vigour. It is by no means uncommon, even in these 

 days, to find young trees nearly bisected by the strings used 

 to tie them, or disfigured by hideous scars, and more or less 

 crippled by the action of the stakes. Rabbits do consider- 

 able damage to young fruit trees, and even sheep frequently 

 nibble away the young bark of the stems that are unpro- 

 tected. Sheep also much injure young trees by rubbing 

 round them to relieve the itchings caused by ticks and scab 

 insects, and by biting the rind : though it is supposed that 

 sheep do no harm in orchards. 



