154 
the stock B. The bark will thus expand, and should the deformity 
continue the next season, these incisions should be renewed. 
Trees which have been neglected, or whose 
growth has been stunted by the presence of moss 
and lichen, scale insects or other pests, or by want 
of drainage of the soil, by the aridity and poverty 
of the ground, or are debilitated in consequence of 
having been allowed to bear too early, often show 
a miserable, sickly appearance. Their growth is 
stopped, the bark becomes tough and leathery; they 
are hide-bound. ‘The cause of the mischief may 
have already been rectified, and still they will make 
no growth. 
Such trees should be similarly treated at the 
time of pruning. They should be cut hard back 
and at pruning time the knife being run longttudin- 
ally through the bark, from the heel to the top of 
the stem, and even along the main limhs. It is also 
advisable to whitewash the stems of such trees. 
Lime, in the shape of whitewash, is well known to 
Incision to reduce 
the swelling of 
the graft or the 
stem. 
be beneficial in most bark diseases. 
Under this treatment the stunted trees of last season are seen 
to spring into fresh and healthier growth. The cambium or growing 
wood layers force the strip of leathery bark apart, the stems and 
limbs are soon seen to swell, the sap runs freely from the roots 
to the top branches of the plant, and the whole growth looks 
healthier. 
INCISION TO CONTROL THE GrowTH oF SHOOTS AND Bups. 
Incisions.—Du Breuil, 
Shonid, during the preceding grow- 
ing season, any one of the lateral 
branches have been imperfectly de- 
veloped, it should be eut back lightly 
when pruning, and if it is much too 
small compared with the others it is 
sometimes advisable to make, imme- 
diately above the point of attachment 
to the branch (B), a notch or small 
incision through the outside layers of 
growing wood, so as to force the,sap 
to run up the branch and develop it. 
The cut should be prevented from 
healing too rapidly. It is also some- 
times desirable for the symmetry of 
the tree to foree a dormant bud into 
erowth, and in that ease an incision as 
shown at A will be found useful. On 
