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Show .Iife)lMlAB BRIDGE CRAFTING IS PROPER FOR GIRDLES Bridge grafting of severe burk girdling of fruit trees by rabbits la about tho best remedy. In case of very small bruises ami cuts on tho bark In scattered spots, a preserving or protective paint like white lead or ochre or grafting wax Is good. This serves only to keep the moisture from entering and causing decay where the heartwood is exposed or where the tissues of the Inner layer are open to dampness. Bridge grafting graft-ing consists In using scions or small limbs to connect the two portions of the bark of a stock or trunk that has been separated by Injury. The gnawed urea Is "bridged," In other words. It Is more often used on apple ap-ple trees than on pears, but plums and cherries can well be handled this way also. One should look carefully care-fully at the base of the trees, because be-cause sometimes Injury Is dono beneath be-neath the surface of the ground, especially by mice. In preparing the wound to receive the grafts, the Injured parts should be well cleaned and preferably washed with some chemical antiseptic. Cut the Irregular edges of the bark above and below so that there Is an even line around the trunk. Get the scions from wood of the previous sea-eon's sea-eon's growth. Water sprouts only a ill m sif ilia r ill " c wmm C Shows the Scion With Flattened Ends; D, the Section of a Tree With the Scions Inserted; E, How the Job Looks When Completed Ready for Final Covering. year old will do. See that the scions for the bridge are longer than the space to be filled.' This Is done so that we can bend or arch the middle part of the scion when we put it in pluce. Bevel the scions off at one end. both smooth surfaces being on the same side of the scion. Io this beveling with a long, sloping cut, and then Insert these thin edges of the scions up under the bark at both ends of the wound, but not hard enough-to tear away or Injure the cambium layer under the bark. One good way to make this easier Is to carefully slit the bark on the margin mar-gin of the wound where the ends of the scions are to enter. Just how many scions are needed to bridge the pap depends on the circumference of the tree. The larger the number the more complete will be the union, but on the other hand If too many scions are used, and they expand as they grow, one will have a trunk thnt Is .swollen outward. Be sure to have close contact between the cambium layer under the bark of the scions and the cambium layer under the hark of the tree. True union will only result If the cambium layers touch. Fasten the scions In place with a very small nail lightly tacked through their ends. Then cover the whole part with grafting wax, strips of waxed cloth or such material to keep out excess water anrt prevent the scions from warping out of place. Melted wax as a covering Is still better. bet-ter. When the Injured parts are below be-low the surface of the ground, small mounds of soil heaped up around the base of the tree will help some. The best time to do bridge grafting Is right before the growth starts. |