SCRAPING TREES. 33 



to graft them, become browned and hardened on the southerly 

 side. He thought this indicated the benefit of protection from the 

 sun, and he thought the rough bark such a natural protector. In 

 regard to the prevention of cracking he was doubtful of the effect 

 to be produced by scraping, as fruit frequently cracked on young 

 trees with the smoothest and healthiest bark, and he had known 

 perfect specimens of the White Do^'enne and other varieties liable 

 to crack produced on old, rough-barked trees. 



Mr. Ilovey said that trees in gardens are in an artificial condi- 

 tion, and may be benefited by scraping, but like pruning it should 

 not be done without limitation. He said that trees were often 

 injured by scraping too severely, or " to the quick," and instanced 

 the case of the orchards of the late Benjamin V. French, where 

 the growth of the trees was checked or entirely stopped for a year 

 or two by a very severe scraping and washing with rather strong 

 lime-wash. Mr. Hovey had had the rough bark scraped from his 

 trees twice. He believed that the cause of the cracking of fruit 

 was the absorption of water, and that scraping was not the remedy. 



Mr. Manning said that he did not understand the " Gardeners' 

 Monthly " as advocating the scraping of trees " to the quick." 



Hervey Davis, chairman of the Fruit Committee, in answer to 

 the president said that age increases the looseness of the outer 

 bark, and that in fifteen years' experience he did not think his 

 trees needed scraping, nor that it would have any effect in pre- 

 venting cracking of the fruit. When he wished to produce such 

 pears as would take the first prize, he had watered freely in dry 

 weather. Mulching might answer to some extent as a substitute, 

 but he thought the leaves and branches need watering as much as 

 the root. He thought a slight scraping of the loose bark of old 

 trees might be beneficial ; but would not recommend deep scraping. 



Benjamin G. Smith felt glad that Mr. Davis had let out the secret 

 of how to produce such fruit as would take first prizes, as he had 

 a weakness for them himself. In the early days of his fruit cul- 

 ture he enquired of an experienced neighbor as to his views on 

 scraping trees, and was answered that an abundant supply of 

 barnyard manure was the best scraping. 



Marshall P. Wilder concurred in the views of Messrs. Hovey 

 and Davis that scraping trees would not prevent the fruit from 

 cracking. Trees under careful culture will not become prematurely 

 rough or mossy. Neglected, or planted too closely, especially in 



