Washing the 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 serub- 
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 
these washes is absorbed through the bark, and 
thereby stimulates the tree. It is probable that it 
* The reader may find various recipes for washes in “The Horticulturist’s 
Rule-Book.” 
