254 APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES. 



tively in impelling the ascending current of sap, 

 which must also be impeded in its progress through 

 the decorticated space. The parts which are above it 

 must, therefore, be less abundantly supplied with 

 moisture ; and drought, in such cases, always operates 

 very powerfully in accelerating maturity. When 

 the branch is small, or the space from which the bark 

 has been taken off is considerable, it almost always 

 operates in excess ; a morbid state of early maturity 

 is induced, and the fruit is worthless. 



"If this view of the effects of partial decortication, 

 or ringing, be a just one, it follows that much of the 

 success of the operation must be dependent upon the 

 selection of proper seasons, and upon the mode of 

 performing it being well adapted to the object of the 

 operator. If that be the production of blossoms, or 

 the means of making the blossoms set more freely, 

 the ring of bark should be taken off early in the sum- 

 mer preceding the period at which blossoms are re- 

 quired : but, if the enlargement and more early ma- 

 turity of the fruit be the objects, the operation should 

 be delayed till the bark will readily part from the 

 alburnum in the spring. The breadth of the decorti- 

 cated space must be adapted to the size of the branch ; 

 but I have never witnessed any except injurious 

 effects, whenever the experiment has been made upon 

 very small or very young branches, for such become 

 debilitated and sickly, long before the fruit can ac- 

 quire a proper state of maturity." 



The effects of ringing in altering the appearance of 

 the fruit is very striking. In the Horticultural Trans: 



