Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-06-03
Girdllng Fruit Trees to Make Them
Bear.

A CORRESPONDENT OF the Boston Jour.
nal Of Chemistry states there Is no doubt
that the girdling of fruit trees is cause
of abundant fruitage, but 1t by no means
follows from this fact that general prin-
ciple can be deduced, that trees would be
improved, or the crop increased for a
series of years, by such treatment. 1t is
we'll known that gardeners frequently Cir
die branch by removing a 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 is ssillfnlly per-
formed, will invariably destroy it before
the season of bearing the next year.
The crude 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 a
new layer of wood and bark; while part
also goes to the nourishment of the fruit.
If there is no obstruction of the elaborated
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, it is stop
ped in its descent, and consequently re-
ceived 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
girdling.
Professor John Lindley, when speak
ing of this subject in his late treatise on
horticulture, quotes Mr.. T. A. Knight ap-
proviRgly, as follows: "When the course
Of the descending current is intercepted,
that naturally stagnates, and accumulates
above the decorticated space, whence it is
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 a premoni
tory symptom Of disordered physical &C
ton, and of premature death.
| If the bark and cambium layer have
been removed by girdling, as seems to be
the case with the trees, the downward
tween the upper and lower part is de
stroyed, and the upper part at least mus
die. If, however, the cambium layer ha,
not been destroyed, and has been 80 GOV
cred by wax and bandages as to preven
evaporation and drying of the surface o
the decorticated part, there is chance
for some Of them to live. 1t is true tha
some few cases are recorded of tree
which have lived several years after tn,
bark and cambium layer have been re
moved, but they are of very doubtful au
thoriiy.
M. Ernest Faivre, French physiologist
gives statement of his recent investiga
tions on this subject, published in tn,
Gardeners Chronicle, about two month
ago, in which he says: "In mulberr,
trees, as in all trees deprived of latex, an
nular incisions generally produce the fol
lowing manifestations: l. Formation o
a swelling or tissue restorer, at the uppe
lip of the wound. Q. Diametrical growth
of the parts above the zone of bark takel
of. 8. Hardening of the wood in tha
region. A. Stationary condition of tn
parts below, if they are deprived of leave
and buds; or, if not, vigorous shoots from
below the lower lip of the wound 6
More easy, more early, and more abun
dant Towering and fructification. 6. De
struction, after variable time, of all tn
parts above the annulation."
From the foregoing observations it ap
pears that girdling trees in any form i
ruinous, and almost always fatal there
fore heartily concur in the advice givei
in the Journal that orchardists should no
experiment on their trees too freely be
fore they see what the fiDal result will b
with those already girdled.-Scientif
| American