18 



2d. Three trees were girdled just below the main branches with the 

 three widths of girdle as in 1st, July 12th, 21st and 29th. 



3d. The same as above was made on one or more main branches with 

 the three widths of girdle, July 12th, 21st and 29th. 



Result. 



1st. All the girdles made near the ground healed over readily and 

 completely. 



2d. Those on the main trunk healed less completely, but sufficiently 

 to ensure a good growth of tree and the covering of the injured 

 part in another year. 



3d. The girdles made in the branches healed less completely than the 

 last, and in two instances the new growth failed to meet and con- 

 sequently the branch died soon after starting growth in the spring. 



4th. All showed a marked increase in fruitfulness over those not 

 girdled. 



5th. Little difference was observed in the effect of the girdling made 

 at different times or in the various widths of the ring of bark 

 taken out. 



Conelusion. 



No definite conclusion can be made at this time as to the effect of 

 this treatment upon the permanent health of the tree. Observations 

 for many years alone can determine the point. 



Reasoning from analogy and from the known laws of plant growth 

 we can only advise this treatment upon trees that are planted too 

 closely and a part of which must be removed after a time to allow the 

 full development of others, or those in very rich, moist soil which are 

 long coming into bearing. 



GIRDLING THE GRAPE VINE TO HASTEN RIPENING OF 



THE FRUIT. 



Cutting rings of bark from the canes of the grape vine to hasten the 

 time of ripening has been practiced more or less for many years to pre- 

 pare large specimens for exhibition, but only for the few years past has 

 it been practiced to hasten the crop for market. 



In a series of experiments made in the college vineyard in 1877 and 

 1878, and recorded in the Report of the Board of Agriculture of Mass. 

 of 1878 and 1879, it was found that removing a ring of bark early in 

 July, }( of an inch wide, resulted in hastening the time of ripening 

 from one to two weeks. 



It was also concluded from very careful tests made at the time that 

 the increased size and early maturity was not at the expense of the 

 quality, and that as far as could l)e determined at that time, and which 



