Washing tht Trees. 285 



somewhat thin and open from the start, rather than 

 to allow it to become overgrown and then to make 

 a sudden and radical correction of the difficulty. 



Bark-bound trees. When a tree has been allowed 

 to become stunted for two or three or more years, 

 it is likely to become hide -bound, so that growth is 

 impeded, even though the care of the plantation be 

 corrected. The bark becomes very thick and dense 

 and tight, and is likely to be dull and lifeless in color 

 and sometimes moss -covered. The newer and fresher 

 parts of the tree are likely to show a tendency to 

 overgrow the lower parts which are hide -bound. In 

 all such cases, the bark should be softened so as to 

 allow the trunk to expand. In general, the best 

 means of loosening up the bark is to scrape off the 

 outer hard layer, if it should become mossy or en- 

 tirely dead, and then to wash the tree thoroughly 

 with some soapy compound. This washing should be 

 done with a broom, or preferably with a strong scrub- 

 bing brush, so that the body may be vigorously 

 scrubbed. A wash of strong soapsuds is very good. 

 Tar soap, whale-oil soap or carbolic soap are also 

 very useful for the purpose.* These washes have the 

 effect of softening the bark and allowing the tree to 

 grow more readily. The effect of a good wash upon 

 orchard trees is often exceedingly marked. It is 

 sometimes thought by orchardists that the potash in 

 rlit'st- washes is absorbed through the bark, and 

 thereby stimulates the tree. It is probable that it 



* The reader uiay tiud various recipes for washes in "The Horticulturist'* 

 kuleBook." 



