Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-03-08
1a1lcaster :antelligenclr.
'HURspAY FvEN1Na, MAR. 8. 1883,
SPRING WORK
Clesusng the Trunks OF Fruit Trees.
Telegraph.


Ulesusng the Trunks OF Fruit Trees.
Germantown Telegraph.
Now. before the warm weather gives
MA and motion to many insects who use
4i,e barks of trees for their winter quar-
-. Is . good time as any-and before
aotiye outdoor work begins-to clean of
ail the moss and snperfuous or old bark
from the trunks of trees, Not only the
inseots. but their millions of eggs, and
the seeds of various blights and mildews
are sheltered in the crevices and rough
places of the old barks, moss, DC. 1t
should be taken tor granted that the ap-
pearance of the vegetable organisms on
the stems of trees, as we'll as upon the
bark of the trunks, shows that something
has already gone wrong. Something mas
prevented the tree from thriving as 1t
should have done. and because it did not
thrive the moss followed. When, there
fore. we make mp our minds to look alter
the moss, it will be as well 10 find ont
what is the matter with the tree, and II
possible place it in a position to throw OIL
A it crows the dead bark on which The
moses and sickness feed.
The stunted condition of the trees which
induces mossy and hide bound bark Is
more frequently the result OF Starvation
than ANYTHING else. When tree does
not expand fast the bark is not thrown
off but remains on the tree to slowly de-
cav but with a rapid expansion it is
thrown off as tree swells and thus keeps
its ovnself clean. Starvation keeps the
tree from growing. A liberal supply OF
good food making tree thrive and expand
RAPIDLY. is one of the best means OF keep
ing tree clean and clear of moss.
When a tree has got once into this har
dened condition, mere manuring VIII
hardly get it out OF it alone. In such
cases orchardists make use of a liberal
application of the pruning knife-cuttng
away all the branches which may seem to
be pretty we'll hardened or stunted. This
brings on free grown of foliage the next
season, and free growth is one OF the
best ways to keep the main stems clean:
Much can be doDo il the carly spring
with those old starved and stuEted trees
towards getting them to do better. The loose
bark may be scraped of, and even washed
with weak potash water or soft soap. The
branches which seem gone beyond re
covery, or are too weak or so much
stunted as to promise little in the future,
may be cut away, and some good icltiiiz
ing material may be hauled and spread
under the trees.
As to what is good fertilizer for ltni;
trees much has been written, but wc he
lieve fer the apple and pear almost any
thing that comes conveniently 10 hand -
good. We knew years ago one verE auc
cessful apple raiser who u%ed no hug
whatever but ashes from t!tr Kitchen.
These were always saved expressly i0' H:a
apple orchard and spread evenly ca tha
ground under each tree. 1t is aonmonty
said that there is no nutrition il antAr&
cite coal ashes, and perhaps there Is n"t q;
but it is TACT that these t'c'
grew amazingly, and bore k>r&c
crop of the most beautiful fruit. H. inaY
be that the wood ashes from the :" hiGd
ling" and perhaps sonln kitchen refuse
among the rest, were the chief fertilizn.;
ingredients. Be that as it may, this OF
chard was a grand success. The bark MAS
always smooth ard healthy locking, with
out any washing or scraping. Nothing III
the orchard line could look better We
have known others who used simply
ditch cleanings, or good top soil from vet
places. and always With considerable
decrease in the apparent health and vigol
nf the tree