^8 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



The Secretary. — Mr. President, this discussion has already taken 

 too much of our valuable time, but since so much has been said in favor 

 of this mutilating process I cannot let it pass without entering my protest 

 against it ; for I wish to warn the inexperienced here, and those who will 

 read our published transactions, that girdling trees to promote fruitage 

 is unwise — except to get a few large specimens for a special object, for, 

 as has been truly said, it is an attack upon the life of the tree, and the 

 recovery from the attack depends upon the extent of the damage and the 

 recuperative energy of the tree ; for some varieties of trees, like some 

 human individuals, will recover, or partially so, from attacks to which 

 others would succumb. 



It is a law pervading the entire vegetable kingdom that the dying 

 energy of a tree or plant is expended in reproducing its species ; and the 

 very fact of the result^ spoken of in larger and more fruit, is a sure indica- 

 tion that the tree or branch is nigh unto death. \\.%full recovery is next to 

 impossible, and its premature decay or death quite probable ; hence, 

 girdling should only be practiced when trees or branches can well be 

 spared. 



Mr. Holdridge. — When we wish to kill trees by girdling we cut 

 through the sap-wood, else it is not sure to kill them. While this 

 subject may be an old one to many members it is new and interesting to 

 me. I am getting some new ideas. I have seen one orchard in which 

 the trees were gridled by rabbits in the spring, and the trees apparently 

 recovered.* 



Messrs. De Garmo and Augustine mentioned instances in which 

 trees entirely girdled by mice died, while those in nursery, girdled but 

 half way around, recovered. 



Mr. Robison. — In this girdling process, as practiced by Mr. Spalding 

 and Prof. Turner, the bark from above and below grows together and 

 makes a union again, if the wound is not too wide, and no injury results ; 

 but if girdled in April, I think the bark should only be cut around with 

 a knife and no bark be removed, as death must certainly ensue where a 

 space exists between the upper and lower edges of the bark. Where 

 mice and rabbits girdle there are generally small portions of the inner 

 bark that are left, and where this is the case if the tree is mounded up 

 with earth soon after the wound is made to a point higher than the 

 wound, then the tree may live; but where the inner bark is all gone, I 



* The Secretary did not understand him to state whether the trees were entirely or 

 but partially girdled. — Editor. 



