Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-08-08
The scra ping of Trees.

Prof. l.. H. Bailey of Cornell Uni
versity writes to Vicks Magazine as
follows:
Now and then hear that a man who
calls himself 1.-THE Cornell Tree Prun-
err or something of the kind is scrap
ing all the outer bark from fruit anu
shade trees. No person is authorized
to use the name of Cornell University
to advertise his abilities as tree
primer or tree doctor.
The question is constantly arising as
to whether trees should be scraped OF
their outer bark. This outer bark is
dead tissue, but it may serve as a pro-
lection to the tree. The features OF
this outer bark are also characteristic
of the different kinds of trees and con-
tribute no small part to their beauty
and interest. | certainly should never
scrape the bark from trees which are
grown for ornament, unless there were
some particular reason for it. This
paticular reason might arise when
there were a serious incursion OF some
insect which finds harbor underneath
the bark, or when some species of body
blight attacks a tree and IL is neces-
sary to remove the bark in order to
get at the difficulty. These are spe-
cial and comparatively rare cases,
however. Certainly the general rule Is
to leave the bark on all ornamental
and shade trees To take 1t of does
no good, and 1t robs them of very
much of their characteristic beauty.
In case of orchard trees, 1t is often
advisable to take off the hanging bark
in order to destroy the harboring
places of codlin-moth and other in
sects. Even in that case, should not
scrape down to the light colored or in
ner bark, but take off merely the
rough, loose exterior. Orchard trees,
not being grown for ornament, often
present more kempt and tidy appear
ance IL the old bark is removed. 1t is
to be remembered that the ideals
which underlie the care of fruit trees
may not obtain with ornamental trees.
/ have understood that this itinerant
tree primer asserts that he is able to
uNobiOy thO PCaA bAi6hS W uuotih6
some material on the trees which he
has scraped. 1t is only necessary to
say that little need be expected from
such treatment.
1t is often asked what one shall do
for moss" on trees. On old and
rough bark. moss does no harm, and
1t often adds distinct charm to shade
and ornamental trees. On young trees
or young bark, the moss generally in
dlcates lack of vigor and vitality in the
tree. The remedy is to make the tree
more vigorous by tillage, enriching the
soil. pruning, spraying and other means.
Taking off the moss is little more than
the treatment Of a symptom; yet the
moss should be removed, for In remov-
ing it the bark will be made more fiex-
IDLE to allow of the expansion of the
trunk, and the tree-if it Is fruit tree
will have a more tidy appearance.
The moss may be scraped off lightly.
1t is also readily killed by spraying
with Bordeaux mixture. believe that
part of the good spraying lies in the
softening OF the bark; this was un-
doubtedly one value of the old prac-
tice Of scrubbing trees with soap or
I've. Stunted trees become hide-bound
and cannot swell with new growth.
Any treatment which softens the bark
will tend to alleviate this condition,
but other good treatment must be CIV
en- at the same time.