RINGING FRUIT TREES.* 



G. H. HOWE. 



SUMMARY. 



i. The object of ringing fruit trees is to induce unproductive trees 

 to set fruit. 



2. Briefly stated, the theory of the operation is: That the removal 

 of a band of bark through the cortex and bast of a plant, at the period 

 of most vigorous growth, does not hinder the upward passage from 

 the roots to the leaves, through the outer layer of woody cells, of 

 unassimilated sap ; but does prevent the distribution, through vessels 

 in the cortex and inner bark below the wound, of assimilated food. 

 The effect of this action is to cause an extra amount of reserve ma- 

 terial to be stored in the upper parts of the plant for the production 

 of fruit buds. 



3. Ringing seems to favor certain organs for a time but devitalizes 

 others. 



4. The removal of narrow strips of bark is less injurious to plant 

 growth than taking out wide rings. 



5. Under certain conditions, ringing may induce and possibly in- 

 crease fruitfulness of apples, but it rarely has these favorable effects 

 on other fruits. 



6. Only young and very vigorous apple trees, possibly now and then 

 pear and cherry trees, can survive ringing, and even with these fruits 

 the compensating gains seldom offset the injury to the trees. 



7. The practice of ringing stone fruits should never be followed. 

 The experiments indicate almost 100 per ct. loss in the life of the 

 trees. 



8. Regular and successive increases in productiveness did not 

 result from the ringing of several varieties of our tree fruits. 



9. Ringing had no apparent influence upon the size, color or ma- 

 turity of apples. 



10. The general effect of ringing on the roots of the trees was to 

 decrease their size and number and to lessen their vigor. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Ringing plants consists in the removal of a band of bark through 

 the cortex and bast of the trunk. The term girdling is frequently used 



* Reprint of Bulletin No. 391, December; for Popular Edition see p. 958. 



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