12 



BARK BOUND CHERRY TREES. 



"Would such a project pay ? This is the 

 home question of all the calculating part of 

 the community, who must open their purse 

 strings to make it a substantial reality. 



We can only judge by analogy. The mere 

 yearly rent of Barnum's museum in Broad- 

 way is, we believe, about $10,000, (a sum 

 more than sufficient to meet all the annual 

 expenses of such a garden ;) and it is not 

 only paid, but very large profits have been 

 made there. Now, if hundreds of thou- 

 sands of the inhabitants of cities, like New- 

 York, will pay to see stuffed boa-constrictors 

 and wrc-human Belgian giants, or incur the 

 expense and trouble of going five or six 

 miles to visit Greenwood, we think it may 

 safely be estimated that a much larger 

 number would resort to a public garden, 

 at once the finest park, the most charming 

 drive, the most inviting pleasure ground, 



and the most agreeable promenade within 

 their reach. That such a project, carefully 

 planned, and liberally and judiciously car- 

 ried out, would not only pay, in money, but 

 largely civilize and refine the national cha- 

 racter, foster the love of rural beauty, and 

 increase the knowledge of and taste for 

 rare and beautiful trees and plants, we 

 cannot entertain a reasonable doubt. 



It is only necessary for one of the three 

 cities which first opened cemeteries, to set 

 the example, and the thing once fairly 

 seen, it becomes universal. The true po- 

 licy of republics, is to foster the taste for 

 great public libraries, sculpture and picture 

 galleries, parks and gardens, which all 

 may enjoy, since our institutions wisely 

 forbid the growth of private fortunes suffi- 

 cient to achieve these desirable results in 

 any other way. 



ON BARK BOUND CHERRY TREES. 



BY R. NEWTON, WORCESTER, MASS. 



The able article of Professor Turner, in 

 your last February number, upon the burst- 

 ing of the cherry tree, will be the means 

 of saving many a tree, growing on highly 

 cultivated soil. If any one doubts his theo- 

 ry, let him try a strip of the outer bark, 

 which he will find nearly as tough as a 

 sheet of tin. The tree continues to grow 

 faster than the bark expands, until the bark 

 becomes so full of compressed wood that it 

 must burst, or the tree must stop growing. 

 It then bursts suddenly, and decay com- 

 mences. 



I believe that Professor Turner will be 

 satisfied, upon reflection, or certainly by a 

 little practice, that he has not adopted the 

 best remedy ; and for that reason alone, I 

 irouble you with this article. 



Young -cherry trees, which stand much 



exposed to the sun, are sometimes killed by 

 having a strip of the exterior bark peeled 

 off entirely round them. From this fact, I 

 infer that taking off all the bark from the 

 entire body, at any age, must injure their 

 health and growth. 



My practice has been, to draw a sharp 

 knife spirally and lightly round the tree, 

 from the ground to its limbs, from two to 

 four times, depending on the size of the 

 tree, and at as nearly equal distances as 

 the eye will direct. Then draw the knife 

 in a contrary direction round the tree in a 

 similar manner. This cuts the rind into 

 small diamond shaped pieces without taking 

 it off"; and the spiral cuts will never produce 

 bursting, because that is always lengthwise 

 of the tree. Light cuts are sufficient, be- 

 cause the bark is thin, and the pressure 



