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XCVII. Some farther Observations on the Method of ringing 

 Fruit Trees, for the purpose of rendering them 'productive. 

 By George Henry Noehden, LL. D, F. L. S. $c. 

 Vice Secretary. 



Read September 2, 1817. 



In a former communication, the practice of ringing fruit 

 trees, in order to cause them to bear, has been spoken of ; 

 and I have since found, in reading some of the writings of 

 M. Andre Thouin, that this mode of proceeding is fami- 

 liar to the French gardeners. Mr. Hempel, of whose 

 account of this operation, a translation has been given in the 

 Appendix to the present volume, mentions, that his father, 

 from whom he himself learnt that method, had derived it 

 from a French journal. M. Thouin intimates, in a passage, 

 which will be subsequently quoted, at full length, that it has 

 been known and approved in France, for upwards of. a 

 century. The French have likewise adapted it to another 

 use, namely, to facilitate the process of obtaining layers, 

 especially from hard-wooded trees or shrubs; but this ap- 

 plication is of much later date. It will be recollected, that 

 our President, guided by that philosophical sagacity, which 

 is peculiar to him, arrived at this practice, by his own ex- 

 periments. He gave the Society an account of it, in the 

 beginning of the year 1812.* The subject of ringing fruit 

 trees is incidentally touched upon, by M. Thouin, in his 



* See the Horticultural Transactions, Vol. I. page 255, 



