Lynchburg Virginian

WHITEWASH FOR FRUIT TREES

The opinion has gradually obtained among novitiates
and the uninitiated, that whitewash is promotive of the
health and vigor of the trees whether planted for orna-
ment or use. Nothing, however, can be more fallacious
than such a belief. It must be evident to every judicious
and reflecting mind, a close and impervious coat of white-
wash, or indeed, of any matter on the bark of a tree, must
necessarily exert a very decided and injurious effect.—
We might as well paint and varnish the skins of our
domestic animals, as to coat, in this way, the limbs and
trunks of our trees. There is an analogy between the
two so far as the offices of skin and bark are concerned.
Both serve as protection to the body, preventing external
injury, and graduating the wonderful economy of
absorption and perspiration through their pores. As the
skin is the general covering of the body, so is the bark
the general covering of the trunk ; and the stopping or
retarding of these phenomena necessarily produce disease
and ultimate death.

A writer in one of the agricultural publications of the
day, who seems to have awarded no small share of atten-
tion to this subject, in remarking upon it says;

"A lye of wood ashes, or water in which potash is
dissolved, (which is the same substance. will doubtless
be as effectual in destroying moss, lice, &c., as lime—
they are both alkalies, and will have similar beneficial
effects; but as to injurious effects none probably will be
produced from the lye."

Soap suds is an excellent wash for fruit trees of all
kinds. It cleanses the bark, stimulates the functions of
the tree, and promotes rapidly. the general health