32 ICE-GIRDLED TREES. 



against the sharp edge of the ice the tree is blown 

 by the wind until the bark is cut through, when 

 the plant is completely girdled. The sap passes 

 from the roots to the leaves, through the wood of 

 the tree, and this will not be impeded by the wound ; 

 but as the juice descends in the liber, or inner bark, 

 it finds its course stopped, and the superfluous sap 

 produces a large swelling in its endeavor to provide 

 a channel. If the cut is not very wide, and the 

 injury has taken place recently, so that the lower 

 edge of the bark is still fresh, a junction will some- 

 times be formed. If, however, the case be otherwise, 

 it will be necessary to resort to artificial means. 



The strongest and most luxuriant shoots of the 

 previous year s growth may be cut a little longer 

 than the width of the wound, and after the ends 

 are sharpened upon both sides, they may be placed 

 under the bark above and below, — the flat side of 

 the shoot facing the centre of the tree, thus bridg- 

 ing over the cut. 



Heavy falls of snow, such as we frequently have 

 in the northern parts of the country, sometimes do 

 great injury. As it melts in the spring, it breaks 

 down the spreading limbs, and makes most unsightly 

 wounds. In such localities, those varieties which 

 naturally j)i'oduee such limbs should be avoided; 

 or, if cultivated, the branches should not be allowed 

 to start from the trunk lower than the average 

 height of snow during the winter. 



