Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-09
FARMAND HOUSEHOLD.
Girdllns Fruit Trees to Mako Them
Bear. Us

A CORRESPONDENT OF the B0&0n Joxr-
nal Of Chemistry states there is no doubt
that the Qirdling Of fruit trees is cause
of abundant fruitage, but It by no means
follows from this fact that . general prln-
ciple can be deduced, that Trees would be
improved, or the crop increased ior .
series of years, by such treatment. 1t 10
well known that gardeners frequently CIR
die branch by removing narrow ring
of bark around it, when they wish to in
crease the size and beauty Of the fruit;
but it is done at the expense OF its vitality,
and. unless the operation 10 skillfally per-
formed, will invariably destroy It before
the season Of bearing the next year.
The erode sap, taken up from the soil by
the roots Of the tree, ascends principally
through the vascular tissue OF the albur-
mum or sap-wood to the leaves of the
branches, and there both this and the car
bon Of the carbonic acid, absorbed from
the air by the leaves, are organized into
the proper substance for the growth OF
the wood and fruit. 1t then 'descends on
the outside, principally through the sieve
tissue of the cambium layer, forming
new layer of wood and bark while part
also goes to the nourishment Of the fruit.
sap N its downward course, It is equally
distributed to the branches, fruit, stem,
and roots but, If the bark and cambium
layer are removed by girdling, 1t is STOP
ped in its descent, and consequently re-
ceivcd into the branches and fruit in ex-
cess, and they are. thus increased at the
expense of the part below. In this way
we account for the increase OF the fruit by
Professor John Lindley, when speak
ing of this subject In his late treatise on
horticulture, quotes Mr.. q. A. knight ap-
provisgly, as follows: "When the course
Of the descending current Is intercepted,
that naturally stagDates, and accumulates
above the decorticated space, whence 1t 10
repulsed and carried upward, to be ex-
pended in an increased production OF bios.
SONS and fruit" This theory is adopted
by the best Psychologists of the present
time, and csn be demonstrated with al
most mathematical certainty. Therefore,
this unnatural development of fruit, in
stead of indicating an improvement OF the
trees, must be looked upon as Fremont
tory symptom of disordered physical &C.
ton, and of premature death.
If the bark and cambium layer have
been removed by grdling, as seems to be
the case with the trees, the downward
circulatory connection on the outside be-
tween the upper and lower part is de-
stroyed, and the upper part at least must
die. If, however, the cambium layer has
not been destroyed, and has been 80 COW
cred by wax and bandages as to prevent
evaporation and drying Of the surface of
the decorticated part, there Is chance
for some Of them TO live. 1t is true that
some few cases are recorded OF trees
which have lived several years after the
bark and cambium layer have been re-
moved, but they are OF very doubtful au-
thoriiy.
M. Ernest Faivre,a French psychologist,
gives statement Of his recent investiga-
tons on this subject, published in the
Gardener's Chronicle, about two months
ago, in which he says: "In mulberry
trees, as in all trees deprived of latex, an.
nular incisions generally produce the fol-
lowing manifestations: /. Formation OF
swelling or tissue restorer, at the upper
lip of the wound. Q. Diametrical growth
of the parts above the zone Of bark taken
of. 3. Hardening of the wood in that
region. f. Stationary condition Of the
parts below, If they are deprived of leaves
and buds; or, if not, vigorous shoots from
below the lower lip of the wound. 8.
More easy, more early, and more album
dant Towering and modification. 8. De-
struction, after variable time, OF all the
parts above the emulation"
From the foregoing observations it ap-
pears that girdling trees in any form is
ruinous, and almost always fatal there
fore heartily concur in the advice given
in the journal that orchardists should not
experiment on their trees too freely be-
fore they see what the final result will be
with those already girdled.-Scisns!fc
american.