Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-04-30

Moss ON FRUIT TREEs.-What is the cause
of it, and what methods shall wo take to re-
move it The moss is frequent visitor of our
fruit yards and orchards and is most constant
in those which are neglected. Very little
thought is bestowed upon the origin of these
parasites, that so fasten upon trees and dis
figure their trunks aud branches Most Guilt
vators are content to know that the moses will
grow, and that an application of soap-suds or
other alkaline washes will remove them. But
this is only surface treatment of the disease,
giving temporary relief without reaching the
seat Of the difficulty.
The MOSES that we find upon rocks and de-
caying trees, though so apparently howerless
and uninteresting to the careless observer, open
new fields of interest and beauty to the diligent
student of nature. Under the microscope they
reveal their beautiful forms their flowers and
methods of reproduction. They are as prolific
as other plants, and myriads and seed globules
sss thivwu ON into the air, To ne fioated by the
winds to new seed plots, and SO fulfil their
mission. They are pioneers in the great work
OF clothing the earth with verdure, and
Wherever these invisible seeds alight upon the
bare rock, they Immediately begin the work OF
disintegration, and draw their aliment from its
stony bosom. They find a pasture ground for
their tiny roots, where we can see neither mold
nor moisture. These invisible seeds light
upon the bark of trees, as well as upon the rock
dislodged from their hold by tho vital energy
OF the tree. It'll law of vegetation, that the
surface of tree dies after a time. Like our
animal system, it throws off a portion of its
waste through the skin, and this waste is dis
lodged, with more or less rapidity, according
to its own vigor. This decaying process is
seen in all trees, the external bark growing
brown, and as it advances in age, peeling off,
This bark is simply mold, not yet dissolved by
the elements, but suitable material to nourish
vegetable life. 1t becomes the seed-bed of
the Invisible seeds of lichens, which attach
themselves to the tree by the force of attrac-
ton, sprout there, and at last grew up into
visible plants. Hence all trees may be attack
ed by lchens, MOSES, and similar plants.
But it will be asked why are certain trees ap-
parentiy free from these parasites. This arises
from the perfect health of the trees. They
grow so rapidly that the dead bark is frequent
ly sloughed off, and every rain washes off its
exuvlse. Or course, all seeds and plants that
have lodged in this dead bark must slide OFF to
the soil beneath. The ground, so to speak, on
which the moses stand, is perpetually slipping
from under them. The branch of thrifty tree
is this year two inches through. By growth
half inch is added to its diameter In season,
and one inch and a half to its circumference
Ihis continual stretching of the bark looses
The hold Of the MOSES, and precipitates them
Bto the earth. Thus it happens that in thrifty
orchards we see little moss, for 1t is destroyed
by the growth Of the trees.
1t is manifest, then, that all washes for the
bark are but superficial remedies forthese bar
astes' The real cure of the disease is in
draining the soil of its moisture and in enrich-
ing it. The most frequent cause of a stunted,
moss-covered tree is found in wet impenetra.
bic soil. The roots come in contact with earth
that furnishes no genial aliment, and the tree
ceases to thrive. The whole atmosphere, too
around a tree is affected by the character of
the soil beneath. Draining not only relieves
the soil of water when injurious and brings it
where the roots most want it, but it renders
the air about the branches too dry to suit the
constitution Of lichen. These parasites must
have moist. atmosphere in order to thrive
we'll. 1t is needless to point out the change in
the atmosphere which thorough drainage will
effect.
1t is quite manifest, then, that the malady Of
moss grown trees lies deeper than the surface,
and that if we would see our trees free from
these parasites, we must pay attention to the
roots rather than the branches. Large doses
of fresh air let into the soil through draining
tile, and generous manuring, will load the
branches with fruit instead Of mess.