American Pomology. ApplesWarder, J. A. (John Aston)
Science
American Pomology. Apples
Warder, J. A. (John Aston)
Apples
Rabbits are also very apt to bite off young shoots, and to bark trees
of larger growth in the nursery, as well as those that have been set
out in the orchard. Various methods have been suggested to prevent
their injuries. Wrapping the stems with strips of rags or with ropes
of hay, was formerly the method practiced by those who wished to save
their young trees; the process is tedious and troublesome. A few
pieces of corn-stalk have been placed by the stem of the tree and tied
to it; this, too, is a troublesome procedure, though, like the others,
it is efficacious. A still better plan in this class of preventives,
is a half sheet of common brown wrapping paper, made to encircle the
stem, like an inverted funnel; this need be fastened only at the top,
by a little thin grafting wax applied with a brush at the instant, or
the paper may be tied with some common white cotton string. This
envelope keeps off the rabbits, and lasts through the winter; the
string will decay before the growing season returns, so there is no
danger of strangulation. All the other wrappings must be removed, or
they will injure the trees and afford harbor for insects. It will be
observed that all applications of this class, are adapted only to
trees that have a clean hole without branches, but are not suited for
those which are made to branch at or near the ground. Besides, in
countries where snow abounds, these little marauders are elevated
above the wrappings, and have fair play at the unprotected parts of
the tree--on this account another class of preventives has been
adopted.
These consist in applications that are obnoxious to rabbits, which,
being nice feeders, are easily disgusted. White-wash, and white-wash
made with tobacco water, soap, whale-oil soap, grease, blood, and
especially the dead rabbit itself, freshly killed, have all been used
with happy results, in that they have driven these animals to seek
their food elsewhere. A very good application, and one that may be
used upon a low-branched tree as well as to the smooth clear stem of
one that is higher, is blood. This is put on with a swab; a few corn
husks tied to a stick, answers very well. Dipping this into the vessel
of blood, the swab is struck gently against the stem or the branches,
as the case may be, and the fluid is spattered over it. A very little
will answer to keep the rabbits away, and the effect will continue all
winter, notwithstanding the rains.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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