The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-21
SPLITTING OF THE BARK

Read at the Winter Meeting of the Maine State
Pathological Society at Biddeford.l
SPLITTING OF THE BARK.
We often find in the spring that young
apple trees in the nursery or orchard nave
the bark split open near the ground, ana
raised from the wood, partly or entlrley,
around the tree. We notice Inns III tne
spring, but close observation tells us that 1t
is done in the fall, and is commonly produc-
ed by the first hard freeze, especially II comes
earlyand the season is wet. Some varieties
are very subject to it, while others are al
most or entirely exempt from it, LII extepds,
AS regards locality, from the northern limit
of the apple at least as far south as New
Jersey; and as is takes place, even at the
north, as the result of early and not very
severe freezes there is no reason why 1t
should not occasionally happen nearly any
where that apples are grown.
No one, to my knowledge, has ever
suggested means of prevention, and only
one writer, (Prof, Joseph l.. Budd OF the
Iowa Agricultural College, has investigated
the cause. Prof Budd tells us that the
varieties subject to splitting OF the bark
have softer or more porous bark than others,
and that the lower part OF the trunk IN
those varieties which split, Will always pc
seen to be wet for some distance above the
ground after wet weather, an to remain SO
for some time, while the unsplitting kinds
will be dry He believes the splitting to be
due to this excess of water inthe bark near
the ground, in consequence OF the excessive
capiilaritv or porosity of the bark OF such
varieties From the way Prof. Budd speaks OF
it Iinferthat he regards this saturation OF the
bark as physical rather than vital. Thatls,
that it is not a redundancy OF sap, but a
mere temporary water soaking.
AS to prevention, nothing Satisfactory qT9
NAV indeed avoid il by choosing only such
sorts as are not liable to it; but this would
exclude many of our best apples. Fortu-
nately the bark is not generally loosened
entirely around the tree. In many instance
the separation extends only little way on
each side of the crack. Even when moth
ing is done, the injury in such cases scarce
ly checks the growth of the succeeding year
and is soon overgrown. But in greater OF
less proportion of the cases the separation OF
the bark from the wood is considerable, and
sometimes total. If these cases are taken
in the fall, and carefully wound with waxed
cloth, so as to draw the started bark closely
together and bind it snugly to the wood, re-
union may be expected, and the tree thus be
saved with little injury. 1t is therefore
important to look over the trees after smart
freezes in October and November, in order
to discover the injury at once. AS the wax
ing has to be done in cold weather. tits neces-
sary to take vessel of live Goals with you
in order to warm up the waxed cloth.
use grating cloth that has had an extra
application of wax upon one side. This
wax is made afer the recipe in Barry's
''Fruit Garden.'') The double waxed side is
wound next to the tree. Though injury by
bark splitting is most common in small trees,
and especially in the nursery, yet have had
in bearing trees, three inches or more in it
diameter, and very badly too.
DEATH OF THE BARK.
An evil very greatly complained Of in North
ern Vermont, but of the extent of which IN
other localities am not well informed, is
the death of the bark of the trunk of young
apple trees, usually not extending higher
than two feet from the ground. This, like
the splitting does not occur to all varieties.
Some, land these often are kinds that suffer
worst from spitting) are not subject to the
clark blight" as it is sometimes called.
These varieties of apples 1.-THE Duchess OF
Oldenburgh is one) in which an abortive
form of this disease occurs, the outer layer
of the bark (epidermis only being killed.
This imparts a scabby appearance and some
what checks the growth of the trees, but is
soon recovered from in good soil. For many
years it has been held and taught that this
disease is the eHect Oh prignt anu warm
sunshine during tne winter anu pr1cec,lon
OF the trunk from tne suns rays ny Tow
branching, or py piaeing poards OF oark On
the soutn-west sac Oh Inc trunk, Has pe sa
ADVISED. In tnel Norln-WesG seIline Sne
young tree IN aleamng poslllon towards .so eae
soutn-west nas peen sIlongt ~ 4,s.lI.
nave no uoupe tn1t injury " sne :. uai e
sometlmes, lanu ~ lne NolIn.w ai Ga.ent
caused py inc sun ~ Minsea ~. sna' = no ~.
tne oisease 1 aM nUm ue .sada -, ~ ~
own olcnalu wneio g.. .no ;o 50 ra5h.s
grass, are pro.ecesu i I'm ~ ,aeoos of herrel
ny lying s.ips =. laSn ~ ti III u
slaves alouilu eho u S,nas s.,
!ust as common IN LES snt 4;I,oa is1ad ,nh
ene SUI, 90 upoa 'nUs fa+ ;rst Oh. +Ianrt /,
are nos plS'G III ;ns;da 81 tba 1aths
was sau az ~ is1 a1so sao,, tbat
49,, ing IL , -,art;ol not antiraIv
WILL .nI trop .h i iil;na seens 70 he
si;ea",,.i5, o. oro 80 's;de and % frannanfIy
IL IL az ,,ortb 90 an Tho south sida
- T ShH d;saass or Similar one sometimes
,,;iIs tbo hora- n circpmscrihed shots esneci-
s a1,s o. ~, a,ea nf an inch in diameter and
from that nm to the size of the hand or large
ar This form has anpeared upon only a
faw varieties hpt r NAV see more of it as the
Younger parts of NV orchard reach the size
when it seems to show itself. These may be