Ontario Fruit Explorers

["Biz Storms" <biz.storms@sympatico.ca>]

Tom,

Hot Lunch?   Yucky but descriptive!
I think I'll pass on another dog since we already have three. Thanks for
your offer, but my hands are full for the moment. 
A few visits on the weekend revealed that our place is the only one that's
been hit by the jackrabbits, and none of us have had any deer coming by and
hitting last year's growth. Score one for the Plantskydd, and one for the
hares at Shakerhill. They went along the lowest ties of the espalier like
eating corn on the cob - except for where we'd applied the nasty white paint
with the bitter stuff. The only way to feel calm about their activity is
that we'd planned to hard prune almost all the trees that they'd chomped.
The remaining ones we will replace or return to the nursery for another two
years. 
Nothing like a mini thaw to get you thinking about spring activities.

Cheers, Bizmark.



-----Original Message-----
From: labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Olenio
Sent: January 10, 2008 1:11 PM
To: 'Ontario Fruit Explorers'
Subject: Re: [OFEX] Scionwood plus Apples of Versailles,and a few misc
questions.

Hi Biz,

I have taken to wrapping my trees with fiberglass window screening.  Just
wrap it around a few times and tie in place with bailing twine.  This way
you get multiple layers of protection, as high as you want, that allows the
tree bark to breathe.  Spiral plastic wraps sometimes hold moisture, and
moisture can mean fungus.

Grapes get a cage made of chicken wire.  Just place a tomato cage over the
vine when you plant it, then wrap the tomato cage with chicken wire.  My
first trellis wire is at the top of the tomato cage and I simply affix the
top of the tomato cage to the trellis wire and it stays upright always.

You can never count on coyotes.  I am affiliated with a dog rescue, so if
you want a jack rabbit control dog I will find you one with a high prey
drive.  Usually good for rabbits, ground hogs, suirrels, etc (whatever chews
at your patience).  My older brother called these pest animals "hot lunch"
for dogs.

Later,
Tom