BURSTING THE BARK IN CHERRY TREES. 



265 



The following is the pomological descrip- 

 tion of the fruit : 



Fruit borne in pairs, and the pairs hang- 

 ing in thick clusters along the stem; a 

 third larger than the May Duke in size ; 

 obtuse heart-shaped in form — very regu- 

 larly shaped, with the remains of the pistil 

 point at the apex, always a little on one 

 side. Stalk — of moderate length and size, 

 but twice its average thickness where it 

 joins the fruit — is inserted in a rather deep 

 but narrow cavity. Skin — rich bright red on 



the shaded side, and of a lively cornelian red 

 in the sun. Flesh — tender, sub-acid, much 

 like the May Duke in flavor. Pit — oval. 



We believe the original tree at Mount 

 Ida farm — Mr. Vail's residence, near Troy 

 — is the only one of this variety that has 

 yet borne fruit ; and it will probably not be 

 till the autumn of 1850, that young plants 

 will be offered in any of the nurseries. It 

 bids fair to be a valuable fruit for all parts 

 of the Union, — even those where the heart 

 cherries do not succeed well. 



BURSTING THE BARK IN CHERRY TREES 



BY L. YOUNG, LOUISVILLE, Ky. 



Under cover of your broad invitation, I 

 have ventured to take part in the interesting 

 discussion now going on in your columns, 

 upon that " vexed question" — what is the 

 cause, and what a proper remedy, or pre- 

 ventive, for the bursting of the bark of the 

 cherry tree ? 



I am not so vain as to presume that the 

 objections herein urged, (even if well found- 

 ed,) and the theory proposed, will settle 

 this question. I am well aware that it is 

 easier to pull down what others or even 

 ourselves may build, than to erect impreg- 

 nable structures. Still, holding that in a 

 discussion of this sort, the detection of error 

 is a matter second only in importance to 

 the discovery of truth, none will be more 

 pleased than myself to see it made mani- 

 fest, that my own deductions are unwar- 

 ranted by facts. 



Two gentlemen — Prof. Turner of Illi- 

 nois, and Mr. Elliott of Ohio, have writ- 

 ten good articles on this subject, — both 

 communicating many useful facts. They 

 ceera to agree in setting down the cause 



Vol. iv. 20 



of the evil to the account of luxuriance of 

 growth, but differ in opinion as to the way 

 in which the injury is brought about. Pro- 

 fessor Turner supposes that the outer-ring- 

 bark thickens, and loses its power of ex- 

 pansion by rapid growth; and that, in this 

 condition, acting as a band, it causes the 

 whole bark to burst before it will yield to 

 the swelling trunk. Mr. Elliott thinks 

 luxuriance of growth causes sponginess of 

 texture, and that in this way the tree is 

 rendered susceptible to injury from the cold 

 of winter. Unable to yield my assent to 

 the modus operandi of either gentleman's 

 theory, I propose to examine them some- 

 what in detail. 



In the first place, the cause of such an 

 injury must be some harm-producing agency, 

 ever present when the ex /I happens; and, 

 when present, always resulting in evil, un- 

 less restrained by some counteracting force. 

 Luxuriance of growth does not answer these 

 conditions ; for moderate growers, and trees 

 in a state of debility, sometimes burst their 

 bark. Again, in a few favored spots, even 



