New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 619 



of the others began growth at the same time as the checks but failed 

 to advance as rapidly. No additional bark was formed and on each 

 ringed tree portions of the new bark died during the summer. At 

 the end of the season the check trees had made one-third more growth 

 than those ringed. The wounded trees were then so weak, one having 

 died, that they were all discarded. All of the living trees, both the 

 ringed and the checks, bore a few apples in 1913 which dropped before 

 the time of harvesting. The root systems of the ringed trees all 

 proved to be much smaller and less developed than those of the checks. 



From these experiments it is clear that the first ringing of the seed- 

 lings influenced fruitfulness and caused them to set a large crop of 

 fruit. The experiments with the Baldwins, however, showed entirely 

 different results. These trees, lacking the vigor and hardiness of 

 the seedlings, failed to survive a single operation. 



In some of the western states orchardists frequently resort to the 

 ringing of their young trees to induce them to bear fruit, with very 

 good results. Under most favorable conditions young, vigorous, 

 thrifty trees ought to withstand and respond to one operation, but 

 subsequent ringing is devitalizing and exerts practically no beneficial 

 influence. From the experiments at this Station, the practice of 

 ringing apple trees for the purpose of inducing and increasing pro- 

 ductiveness seems too drastic a practice for the good of the trees. 

 Even if a slight increase in fruitfulness is brought about it seldom 

 offsets the injury to the tree. 



RINGING PEARS. 



Early in June, 1912, 12 Bartlett pear trees four years from setting 

 were ringed at the base of their trunks with bands one inch in width. 

 Twelve adjoining trees of this variety were left as checks. As with 

 apples, the pear-tree bark peeled from the wood at this season with 

 ease. Succulent cambium covered the exposed woody cells. Soon 

 after ringing, this cambium hardened and began forming bark over 

 the entire wound and no injurious effects were evident. After a time, 

 however, new bark continued to grow only in streaks, leaving patches 

 of dying tissues. Wood growth became sluggish and the foliage 

 failed to retain its usual dark green pigment. In the fall, 2 trees were 

 dead, having formed but 5 per ct. of new bark. None of the others 

 were thrifty. New bark was poorly formed. The foliage was small 



