Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-05-01
Sitting the BARK Of Hid Bound Trees.
T. t. LYON.

Nature has assuredly provided all
needtul means ofexpansion of the out
er covering OF plants, as well as Of ami
mails. In the case of what are known
Us hide-bound trees, my inference, Tor
theory, fit is preferred to so designate
t, )is that the difficulty is to be sought, not
in the refractory character Of the outer
covering Of the trunk, but rather in de-
moraltzatiOn at the rOOt-possibly in
some disease, or parasitical robbing OF
of those essential organs of nutrition;
or, quite as likely, in some deficiency
or incsmpatibility Of the soil-it may
be excess, or possibly even lack ofmois-
ture, or the presence Of some unfriend-
ly constituent.
In the absence of any clearly indica-
ted cause such dcease, if disease II should
be called, my first search would be at
the root, for indications OF disease there;
and next, would resort to the culture
and amelioration of the soil, and the
free use of suitable manures, if thought
desirable, feeling assured that while
Sitting" can BY no means induce
growth. in the absence OF nutrlment,th the
wonderful digestive apparatus with
which very plant is provided WILL be
yond doubt, greedily assimllate all the
food supplied BY the rOot-provlding Its
own means Of "slitting the bark when
ever and wherever space may prove 100
narrow Tor its accommodation.
That this Sitting" process may and
does result in the more rapid enlarge
ment of the portion of tree to be 0perat
ed upon, we are by no means disposed 10
ouesuon. But what is gained? The
trunk will, il left to itself, appropriate
its proper share Of the nntrlment sup
nlied: while we gain nothing, but rath
er lose, by increasing its size at the eA-
nepce of other members. Sitting the
bark is, with more proprlety resorted
70 in the case of crooked growths,
where a slit or two upon the inner curve
will. by increased enlargement at such
noiut. hasten natures effort to supply
the defect. The process should how
ever. be always employed with care and
discretion. Especially Is this the case
with the stone fruits, such as Cherries.
plums. and Peaches; for the reason
that. if the knife should run too deep
or be employed for this purpose at al
improper stage Of growth there IS dan
GER OF the oxidation OF gum from the
wound. which, under the trying climates
and with the rich soils OF the West, Is
very likely 10 result i'll the annual en-
larsement of the wound, and the pre-
mature death OF the tree.
1t is believed that one Of most iruit-
full causes Of this condition Of trees VIII
be found in the wreuchlng or swayihs
of their trunks by the force Of the wind
and the consequent breaking loose oil
the tibrous roots from the soil; thus
cutting off the chief sources OF nu'ri'lon'
and leaving the plant in a semi-starVed
conditional condition likely to be con-
tinued indefinitely on account oil the
liability to an occasional recurrence oil
the case, operating to prevent the
renewal Of the connection. We hardly
need say that the remedy for this DIN,
Guilty should be sought in the careful
stalking Of the trees; or, still better
may be prevented by branching very
low-at or near the ground.