1880.1 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



303 



of nature, they will eflfectually protect them- 

 selves against the sun and winds ; those on the 

 exposed sides remain shorter and retain their 

 side branches, so that the branches of the tallest 

 reach down to the next shorter, and these in 

 turn to the next, and so on down to the shrubs, 

 and these to the grass. Why is this so if it is not 

 for the protection from the sun and winds. If 

 the short trees and shrubs are cut away the rest 

 will soon decay, not on account of the wind 

 alone, as we are usually told, but by the sun 

 also ; for I claim that the exposure to the sun 

 has as much to do with it as the winds. 



Where trees must be trimmed up high, I would 

 allow the side branches to grow (although they 

 might be kept short) until the top was large 

 enough to shade the trunk, not from the sum- 

 mer sun only, but from the winter sun as well, 

 which is probably the most injurious. 



SPLITTING THE BARK OF TREES. 



BY H. LUMBARD, OAK PARK, ILL. 



I wish to give my experience in regard to 

 splitting the bark of trees. 



I have on my place several Early Richmond 

 Cherries, and tried the experiment of slitting the 

 bark on about half of them. Result, every one 

 that I slit is dead ; the others that were not cut 

 are thrifty and doing well, every one of them. 

 Would advise any one wishing to try the experi- 

 ment, to go slow at least on Cherry trees. 



My conclusions are about as follows : I have 

 six dead facts and six living facts. If I had left 

 them alone, I should have had twelve living 

 trees, but I should not have known what I know 

 now, viz. : That splitting the bark will some- 

 times kill trees, and I would not slit the bark on 

 the remaining six for the value of the trees, feel- 

 ing sure that it would kill them. Perhaps if I 

 had commenced on them when they were young 

 they would have got used to it. I do not know 

 and cannot prove it. I have given you solid facts 

 and my conclusions. 



"Facts are stubborn things," and what maj'^ be 

 a fact in regard to one tree may be death to 

 another in a different locality. I have often split 

 the bark of Apple trees without any apparent 

 injury; the wound always healing and doing well. 



I will state that the trees did not all die the 

 first year, but they have dropped off year after 

 year, until this year the last one is gone. It is 

 four years ago that I slit them. 



STANDARD AND OTHER GOOSEBERRIES. 



BY H. G. HOOKER, ROCHESTER, N. Y. 



Inquiry is made in the Monthly as to the suc- 

 cess of the Standard Gooseberries introduced 

 into this country during the Centennial year 

 Some of the standard gooseberries which were 

 exhibited on the Centennial grounds, are now 

 I growing with me and others near by where I can 

 I see them. The result of my observation is, that 

 ; T cannot see that they possess any special merit, 

 except as a curiosity. 



Currants and Gooseberries will grow and bear 

 j heavy crops when worked high (or low) upon the 

 I Missouri flowering currant stock, but the stock 

 I is not stiff, and always requires a stake to main- 

 tain it upright. The fruit is not better or less 

 I liable to mildew when worked in this manner ; 

 ! and such plants must always be very high 

 priced, as they are difficult to work and the 

 stocks need age to make them stout enough to 

 stand well. They are curious, especially when 

 Currants and Gooseberries, both red and white, 

 all appear in one head, upon a tall stem, and 

 that is all the recommendation they will bear. 



OTHER GOOSEBERRIES. 



The experience of some years enables me now 

 to speak of some American varieties of Goose- 

 berries as grown here in Rochester somewhat 

 extensively. 



The Downing holds a good place as a strong 

 and very healthy grower, never, under any cir- 

 cumstances failing to produce a very abundant 

 crop ; without a trace of mildew and with very 

 remarkably good foliage. The quality of the 

 fruit I cannot call best. 



Smith's Improved never mildews, is as large 

 or larger than Downing, of better quality and 

 equally productive ; but the plant is not as 

 strong a grower, needs higher manuring an 

 some pruning; also is more liable to lose its foli 

 age more or less before the fruit is past. 



Hudson, raised by Joseph H. Ricketts, proves 

 with me the finest in quality of all the Goose- 

 berries I have ever tasted. In size it is larger 

 than either Downing or Smith's Improved, and 

 has never shown a trace of mildew; which, 

 along with its style of growth, leads me to the 

 conclusion it must have come from the seed of 

 American or cross breed stock. The foliage is 

 thick and glossy, but liable to drop some before 

 the fruit is all past. 



New Seedlings. I am this year fruiting a quan- 

 tity of seedlings raised from several American 



