Hide-bound Trees 275 



of the plantation be corrected. The bark becomes very 

 thick and dense and tight, and is Ukely 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. 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 entirely 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 scrubbing- 

 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 on orchard trees is often exceedingly marked. 

 It is probable that the potash in the washes eventually 

 becomes plant-food by being washed off to the soil, 

 although the chief value of the wash is no doubt the soft- 

 ening and loosening effect on the bark. The washing also 

 has the additional advantage of killing various insects 

 and their eggs that may be in or about the bark. Spraying 

 with bordeaux mixture, or lime-suffur, will kill the hchen 

 or "moss" on the trunks. 



Another means of releasing the pressure in tight- 

 jacket trees is to slit the bark the entire length of the trunk 

 or hide-bound part. This is done by thrusting the point 

 of a knife through the bark until it strikes the wood, and 

 then drawing the blade down the entire length of the area 

 to be treated. When the knife is withdrawn, the slit is 

 scarcely visible; but after a time the slit widens, as the 

 tree begins to expand. This method is to be advised only 



