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["Lon J. Rombough" <lonrom@hevanet.com>]

I've seen something like that.  The bark is gone, but the cambium isn't totally stripped and there can be enough bits of it that if it's protected even slightly it can fill in the gap enough to create a bridge that will keep the tree alive, then grow to fill in the space with new bark.  It's amazing how SMALL a strip of cambium can be and still keep the tree  alive long enough for it to do enough healing of the wound to survive.  It may be runty for a couple of years, but after a while it can fill in amazingly well, given the chance.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, my book, The Grape Grower, at http://www.bunchgrapes.com  Winner of the Garden Writers Association "Best Talent in Writing" award for 2003. 
For even more grape lessons, go to  http://www.grapeschool.com
For growing supplies and more;  http://www.grapegrowersolutions.com

On Mar 21, 2007, at 1:48 PM, Donna &/or Kieran wrote:

I once wrapped a couple of rabbit damaged trees for someone in England, just 
wrapped them with rags.  They said those were the only trees that survived. 
I offer this not because rags are the best wrappers, but because SOMETHING 
is better than nothing.  I hope that some come through for you.  If not, I 
guess the undamaged 3 ft will be there for future growth.
Apple trees seem to be the hardest of all here, I hope that this, the 
15th year since I started planting them, that they will make a crop.  Boron 
seems to be the secret to get the trees to grow here.  WHY the Ag bulletins 
for the south and all the books and magazine articles don't say add boron if 
you are on red clay, I just don't know.  Donna