STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETr. 41 



Mr. Gardiner. I remember, a good many years ago, after the 

 cold weather had began, there came some warm weather, then it 

 became cold again and I lost a great many trees. I attributed it to 

 the warm weather which had started the sap, and the sudden freez- 

 ing afterwards, causing a sudden expansion and contraction. I lost 

 many Baldwins at that time. 



Mr. Sawyer. I would like to ask Mr. Briggs if he ever saw the 

 bark cracked on a tree that had all its branches down to the ground 

 — had not been trimmed up? 



Mr. Briggs. Yes, sometimes- 1 noticed it on some that were 

 particularly thrift\'. 



Mr. Sawyer. I have in mind some trees that never were 

 trimmed. They are trees of considerable height, with very large 

 tops ; but the branches start very near the ground, so that there is 

 no place where the sun can shine on the trunks. The bark on these 

 trees is green and smooth, except as it becomes thickened in the 

 process of nature, when it falls off in flakes or scales, and never 

 cracks. Now I believe the cracking results from the unnatural con- 

 dition which we produce by this high pruning. I have found that 

 by slitting the bark the entire length of the trunk, so as to give 

 room for the expansion of the tree, the splitting or cracking of the 

 bark is prevented. A clean cut through the bark, made with a 

 sharp knife, will heal in one season, and the width of the scar will 

 show very nearl}'^ the increase in the circumference of the trunk. 

 The tree, when the sap starts, must expand. If it has an unnat- 

 nrallv hardened and rigid bark around it, something must burst or 

 the tree cannot expand. T think that is all there is to it. If you 

 slit the bark of a hide bound tree in that way^, you will see no burst- 

 ing, and the tree will grow much better for it. 



Mr. L. H. Blossom. AVould you advocate splitting the bark? 



Mr. Sawyer. Not unless I saw some necessity for it. I think 

 you can tell by the appearance of the bark of the tree whether it is 

 in such a condition that it needs to be relieved, and I think it is safe 

 to say it will do no harm, if your tree has reached that size wliere 

 there is a possibility of its bursting. 



Mr. Beossom. "Will it make any difiereuce on which side? 



Mr. Sawyer. I think not. If 3'ou split the bark in the si)ring, 

 you will find in the fall a wide scar or seam, proportionate to the 

 size and vigor of the tree, and inside of that space there will be a 

 new bark. 



