62 Removal of Outer Bark: Arbor Days. 



Stimulation of the Growth of Trees by removal of outer Bark. 



230. Sometimes the peeling off of the outer bark of fruit trees 

 will stimulate their growth. The operation should be performed 

 just as the cambium layer is formiug, which is generally in the 

 latter part of June, in the Northern States. The cork tree is found 

 in' Southern Europe to thrive under peeling, and where elms in Paris 

 and elsewhere have been shaved down to the live bark, in the Robert 

 process, for destroying the larvse of insects, they have taken a new 



start afterwards. 



Arbor Days. 



231. A pleasant custom was introduced in Nebraska, about 1874, 

 at the instance of the State Horticultural Society, of devoting one 

 day in spring to the planting of trees. The 2d Wednesday of April 

 was designated, and it is claimed that 12 millions of trees were set 

 on that day in that state. In Minnesota, the State Forestry Asso- 

 ciation designated the 18th Tuesday of May for this purpose, and 

 1876, 1,342,886 trees were reported as planted on that day. In the 

 Year following, the number was 442,558. The Governor of Mich- 

 igan, by proclamation dated February 22, 1876, recommended that 

 the 15th of April be devoted to planting trees, but we have no 

 data as to the result. The Governor of Ohio appointed an Arbor 

 Day to be observed on the 27th of April, 1882. 



231^. The custom is admirable as far as it goes, but it is liable to 

 interruption from stormy weather, or seasons unusually early or 

 backward, and in the granting of premiums for greatest number, or 

 best success, it would be much better to have them apply R) the 

 whole season, leaving the day to be fixed by the planter as suited his 

 convenience, and as weather favored. 



