292 
half through, nailing them in an horizontal 
pofition, &c. &c. But che method on which 
he feemschiefly to rely, is tocut off from the 
barren branches a complete, or nearly com- 
plete cylinder of bark; and he tells us, 
that five years prior to the time of writing 
thet part of his work, this experiment 
rad been made on the branch of a pear- 
tree in Mr. Howard’s garden, at Litch- 
field, which branch fince the operation had 
every year produced an abundant crop of 
pears, while the reft of the tree bore little 
or nothing. 
In reading this fa&t, I was truck with 
its importance; as it is well known, that 
in every large garden there are numbers 
of trees, wall trees as well as ftandards, 
which annually make vigorous fhocts of 
wood, without bearing any bloflom, and 
which in that fiate are confequently mere- 
ly an incumbrance on the ground. Such 
an experiment I thought, deferved repeat- 
ing, that the accuracy of its refult might 
be placed beyond doubt; and as in my 
garden there are feveral barren but healthy 
fruit-trees of the above deicription, I re- 
folved to treat them agreeably to Dr. Dar- 
win’s directions. Acordingly this Sum- 
mer, from the branches of two pear-trees, 
I took off compiete cylinders of bark, 
about an inch in breadth, and from the 
branches of pear and neétarine trees, I cut 
off 3 of a circle of oe bark, only leav- 
ing the remaining 3 as a conneéting flip. 
OF the ifiue of thefe experi en's, incourte, 
I fhaljl not be able to judge before another 
year. In the mean time, however, I have 
accidentally ftumbled on an unintended 
experiment, as I may call it, which leaves 
me no doubt that the refult will he highly 
favourable to my expectations. This 
fa, which it is the purpofe of the prefent 
letter to record in your magazine, is as 
follows: 
About a month ago, being ona vifit at 
a friend’s, I obferved the leaves of alow 
branch of a pear tree nailed to the wall of 
his houfe, to be of a much lighter green 
than the reft of tie tree; and to great was 
the difference of colour, that I diltinguifh- 
ed it at a confiderabie diftance. On ap- 
proaching the tree to examine it, | was 
furprized to find this branch loaded with 
pears, while on the other branches of the 
tree, which feemed bisply vigorous, there 
were only one or two {cattered here’ and 
there. At enc e, however, I perceived 
the caufe of this difference, and'was not a 
little pleafed to have met by chance with 
fuch a ftriking proof of the truth of Dr, 
Darwin’s ideas on this point: for I found 
that at the bafe of this bianch, he bark 
I 
‘ 
Experiment of Barking Fruit-trees. 
[ Nov. 1, 
had been fo completely deftroyed by cattle, 
that I could not on narrow examination, 
perceive the fmalleft flip to connett its 
bark with the bark of the main tree. 
part thus ftripped, was in fome places three 
or four inches, and behind the branch 
about half an inth broad only, but in every 
part completely bare of bark. 
My friend had paid no attention to 
this circumftance, and therefore was not 
able to give me any information as to the 
produétivenels of this branch in former 
years, nor as to the time when his cattle 
had gnawed the bark from off it; but 
from its appearance, I fhould guefs it had 
been done feveral years. 
Dr. Darwin, in his relation of the expee 
riment made in Mr. Howard’s garden, 
fays, that, after a few years, he obferved 
the pears on the branch which had been 
{tripped of a circle of its bark, to be 
{maller than thofe on the reft of the tree, 
and the leaves on this branch to be of a 
lighter green. Thefe circumftances ex- 
afily agree with my obfervations on, the 
fa&t above relat ed, for the light green of 
the leaves, of the branch of | my friend’s 
pear-tree, was, as I have mentioned, the 
fingularity which drew my attention to it, 
and the pears on this branch certainly 
feemed to me fmaller, though net much 
{maller, than thofe on the reft of the tree. 
The difference in colour of the leaves, 
and lefs fize of the fruit, would feem to 
prove a want of health in the branches on 
which this operation has been made; but 
however thismay be, if branches which 
before were barren will after this treat- 
ment for years (that they wiil for four or 
five years Is afeeuaincd) ies arloads of fruit, 
it would feem that the operation might be 
neverthelefs highty proStable, even though 
the branches fo treated fhould after a cer- 
tain period ceafe to be produétive or die. 
In this cafe, as it does not appear that 
the health of the re& of the tree is at al] 
injured by the operation, fuch branches 
might be'fucceffively cut out, and the new 
fhoots, when of fufficient growth, treated 
in like manoer. 
It is evicent, that expzrimentsare fill 
wanted to fhew whether the partial and 
entire decorticating of a circle of the 
branches of fruit-trees is preferable, and 
what is the confequence, after a period 
of years, to the health of thefe branches, 
ard to the quantity, fize, and flavour of 
fruit procuced on them. 
Such elucidaticns as the experiments I 
have initituted, will give to thefe points, 
I intend to do myfelf the pleafure to com- 
municaie at a futuie time to your readers; 
, and 
The 
