Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-08


varieties subject to splitting of the bark
have a softer or more porous bark than
others, and that the lower part Of the trunk,
in those varieties which split will always be
seen TO be wet for some distance above the
ground after wet weather, and to remain so
some time, while the unsplitting kinds will be
dry. He believes the splitting to be due to this
excess of water in the bark near the ground,
in consequence OF the excessive capilarity or
porosity of the bark of such varieties.
From the way Professor Budd speaks OF 1t
| infer that he regards this ssturation OF the
bark as physical rather than vital. That is,
that it is not redundancy Of sap, but a
mere temporary water soaking.
As to prevention, nothing satisfactory has
ever been proposed for this evil. We may
indeed avoid it by choosing only such sorts
as are not liable to it but this would ex
clude many Of our best apples. Fortunately
the bark is not generally loosened entirel,
around the tree. In many instances the sep
aration extends only little way on each
side Of the crack. Even when nothing is
done, the injury in such cases scarcely
checks the growth of the succeeding year,
and is soon overgrown. But in greater or
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, reunion 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 aud Novem-
Der, in order to discover the injury at once.
As the waxing has to be done in cold
weather, it is necessary 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 after the recipe in
Barrys Fruit Gdrden). The doubly waxed
side is wound next to the tree. Though in
jury by bark splitting is most common in
small trees, and especially in the nursery
yet ! have had it in bearing trees, three
inches or more in diameter, and very badly
too.
DEATH OF THE BARK.
An evil very greatly complained of in
Northern Vermont, but of the extent OF
which in other localities am not well in
, formed, is the death of the bark of the
trunk of young apple trees, usually not ex
tending higher than two feet from the
, ground This, like the splitting, does moi
occur to all varieties. Some (and these
, often are kinds that suffer worst from split
ting) are not subject to the bark blight,
as it is sometimes called. There are varie
, ties of apples (the Duchess of Oldenburg il
, one) in which an abortive form of thit
r disease occurs, the outer layer of the bari
, (epidermis) only being killed. This i'm
r parts scabby appearance and somewha
D checks the growth of the trees, but is soor
. recovered from in good soil. For man,
8 years it has been held and taught that thi
f disease is the effect of bright and war;
9 sunshine during the winter and protection
y of the trunk from the suns rays by low
: branching, or by placing boards or bark o
y the southwest side of the trunk, has bee
5 advised. In the northwest, setting the youn
i tree in leaning position towards the south
q west has been strongly recommended.
n have no doubt that injury to the trunk
>, sometimes (and in the northwest often
Il caused by the sun in winter but that
vt not the disease / am now describing.
n my own orchard where all the trees CROWN
d in grass are protected from mice and rabbit
d by tying strips of lath or pieces of barre
II slaves around the trunks this bark disease
t. Just as common on trees thus sheltered fror
8, the sun as upon those in titled land whic
Is are not protected. (In fact, first thought
o, was caused by ice forming inside of tt
ir laths around the bark) Aud have al:
% seen that when the injury is partial, l. e. nj
entirely surrounding the tree, the KILN
1T seems to be indifferently on any side, an
D. as frequently on the north as on the sout
e. side.
n, This disease, or similar one, sometim
d, kills the bark in circumscribed spots, G
IS pecially on trees of some size. The bal
I'd dies over an area of an inch in diamett
as and from that up to the size of the hand
,e larger. This form has appeared upon on
he few varieties, but may see more of it
ne the younger parts of my orchard reach t
to size when it seems to show itself. The
e. may be entirely distinct diseases. ha
Is, thought, though ] have never been able
e. prove it, that the lest named was the wo
I'd Of insects. The other, affecting most
ay trees under two inches in diameter is do
p- in the winter, or at least shows itself in
If spring, is done all at once, and does 4
ey spread. If strip of bark is left uninjurt
&c. connecting sound bark below with sou
ed bark above (and this is not uncommon
"a the tree may be saved. BY removi
as. the dead bark and waxing the uncover
IN wood the injury will heal over. But
lg- tree so injured is much retarded in grow
ms and generally prefer replacing it with
,te other from the nursery. On trees 30
zee jured premature fruiting is often induc
nd and il the fruit is not removed while smi
the tree will become hopelessly "stunted.
to am sorry that am unable to do mt
So than TO describe these "troubles." l vi
ZEN | knew how to prevent them, and perhs
rn- the best way TO get the information is
oh bring them before this society for dsoussi
''A hope there may be free interchange
len experience in regard to them.
ne -~>--
,ba CHEMICAL terms are very puzzling
- those who are unfamiliar with the scien
'hu and even man who thought he knew c.
Far siderable about chemistry twenty years q
the is bothered by the frequent changes int
the duced by new systems of nomenclatu
- Thus one asks us if muriate and chlor
o'y of soda are the same thing" Yes, they
OF the same, but even the last name is Q
ut. fashioned now, being replaced, under n
ing system of naming by "sodium chlorid
.;se The object of these changes has been
100 100 make the name of any compound substal
ara exactly expressive Of its composition.
trust that this last new arrangement
reached that end, and will stay put" A
IL is hoped that common salt will not
any higher on account of having these tn
iH scientific names.
BANKS NOT "BoNDs."-We get ca
mo from critical readers quite often, and
last one asks us (referrinQ to an arti