348 ANNUAL UEPOET 



want of a thicker bark, to protect the "seat of life" while the new 

 cell structure is in process of formation. This difficulty of drying 

 and hardening of the bark, is perhaps more commonly met with in 

 transplanting the White Pine, and Sugar Maple when of large 

 size, than of most other plants in our state. Add to the bark by 

 winding with rags, or shade them, till they have made one good 

 annual growth of bark. But, says one, how are we to change the 

 natural bark of our native trees? Good plant food and plenty of 

 water, is just as sure to increase the thickness of tree bark, as good 

 oats are to c >ver up the visible ribs of a half starved horse. When 

 stock men wish to increase certain good qualities in an animal, to 

 use their own term, they "breed up" to it. Horticulturists must 

 adopt the same wise plan. For tbe coming winter Apple, take the 

 thick barked Pyrus Coronaria, and the hardiest and best of the 

 Prussians, and "breed up" to suit your taste, and fancy! 



T. T. Lyon, Prest. Mich. State Hort. Society says: "There are 

 inherent differences in the constitution of the various woody 

 growths, so far undiscovered by science." This comes from most 

 excellent authority, and meets my hearty approval. If this state- 

 ment of Mr. Lyon should lead any one to infer that the difference 

 in the woody cell structure was more potent, or a better criterion 

 by which to determine the hardiness of an exogenous plant than 

 the quality and the thickness of the bark, then I can see where it 

 might be somewhat misleading. But I do not believe that Mr. 

 Lyon will take that view of the subject. I have known the White 

 Oak to make a growth of one foot in a few days, in May and first 

 of June, and then, before sufficient bark was matured to protect 

 the woody cell structure, a frost came and killed the plant down to 

 the old bark. The woody cell structure above and below the old 

 bark was the same, and new tender cells were forming in both 

 alike, and the difference consisted entirely in the difference in bark 

 protection. Had I taken the precaution to wind that new growth 

 with rags, all would have been well. The Hemlock Spruce is a 

 very coarse grained, poor quality of lumber, but owing to its thick 

 durable bark, will stand our climate longer than the fine grained 

 White Birch. The Shagbark Hickory will also stand our extreme 

 heat better than the Bitter Nut. Another point worthy of notice 

 is, that everything else being equal, we should always prefer a 

 rough bark, like the Corkey Elm, Hackberry, Burr Oak, <fcc, &c. 

 "Breed up," gentlemen, to any good strain you may fancy. You 

 have a most delightful variety of species right at hand, and can 

 call in more if you wish. Now, in conclusion, and you all have 

 good reason for being out of all patience to think I did not arrive 

 at some conclusion long ago, were it not so fearfully hazardous, 

 and rash in its very conception, to run counter to a good old friend, 

 who is both physically and mentally my superior, and then that 

 other reason too, so dear to my heart, that I possess the enviable 

 reputation of being the champion modest young member of this 

 live institution; I say were it not for these almost insurmountable 

 obstacles in my rugged pathway, I should declare right here and 

 now tha Heat is King! but in that event I should be compelled 



