Remarks on the Rmging of Fruit Trees. 



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feet 



Peach and apricot trees will not bear ringing, because they 

 always produce their fruit on the young wood; and the vine 

 still less, because it bears on the growing shoot. Ringing does 

 not advance the fructification of either plum trees or young 

 cherry trees ; and it is apt to produce the gum in old trees of 

 the latter species, as the wound is a long time before it heals. 

 Apple trees shrivel above the ring ; and, if they live, they do not 

 soon bear any fruit. The pear tree thus remains the only spe- 

 cies of fruit tree on which the operation of ringing can be 

 practised with advantage. 



Ringing may be performed at any season, but it only pro- 

 duces its full effect when undertaken in the spring, at the first 

 appearance of the movement of the sap, and as soon as the 

 bark begins to crack. The wound ought not to be wider than 

 the thickness of the blade of a knife, if it is desired that it 

 should heal before the end of the season. The operation ought 

 to be performed on a side branch which is rather stronger and 

 more elevated than its neighbours ; or one which is badly placed, 

 and which, in the end, may be removed without disfiguring the 

 tree. A tree will not bear ringing either round the trunk or 

 round the leading shoot, unless there should by chance be a 

 second leader, and one may be removed without injury. 



The tree which has had its trunk operated upon is in dan- 

 ger of either perishing, or remaining a long time in a sickly 

 state ; and, after it has recovered its health, its sterility will be 

 more durable than if it had never undergone the operation. 



If a branch is ringed too close to its base, or the point where 



