SELECTION OF TREES PROM THE NURSERT. 329 



have a, clean, smooth, uninterrupted bark, open and ex- 

 posed to their ravages, which, alas, are never to be ob- 

 served until too late, when their work of destruction is' 

 completed, and the dead bark, sloughing off from the 

 wood, presents itself to the eye of the orchardist, at tho 

 end of the season, and explains, in terms of unmistakable 

 plainness, the damage to which the unsuspecting planter 

 has been subjected. This enemy, rarely, if ever, dares 

 intrude upon a tree that has been properly grown, and 

 which is furnished with lateral branches, from near the 

 root to the proper head of the tree ; and if, perchance, it 

 have ventured to intrude, the numerous points of vitality 

 near at hand are able, by their resiliency, to restore the 

 loss, and to repair the damage. 



Heretofore these expressions have applied to the gener- 

 ality of trees ; the bark worm, however, is peculiarly de- 

 structive of the apple, quince, thorn, and pear, perhaps 

 in the order named. There are, however, other evils that 

 are inflicted upon high-grown trees, that are still more 

 apparent with the cherry and other sorts of fruit. The 

 effects of the bright sunshine upon such naked stems is 

 also disastrous, as seen in the dried, and shriveled and 

 scorched bark of many a noble, tall, but naked speci- 

 men — while those but partially shaded by the moderate 

 spray that exists in well-grown trees, entirely escape 

 these results. It is a common remark with regard to the 

 cherry, particularly the freeer-growing sorts, that they 

 will suffer from bark-bursting, which is attributed by 

 some to the frost, and by others to the influence of the 

 sun. Whoever saw these effects, from what cause soever, 

 upon low-headed trees, or above the branches ? No one 

 often, though there may be exceptional cases. No, these 

 results are always most manifest upon the prettiest, most 

 thrifty, and most naked trees ; and the very remedy which 

 has proved most effectual is simply supplying to such 

 28 



