ALTON HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 339 



the roots are tlicir feeders, and wlieii developed are tei-med spoiigioles, which are simply elongations 

 of the colls of the roots, which, after having performed their work, decay: and the same process is 

 repeated during the life of the tree. 



Mr. Johnson tells us it is a common, hut erroneous idea, that absorption from the soil can only 

 take place tlirougli these spongioles; but, on the contraiy, the extreme tips of the roots cannot take 

 up li(jnids at all. I must confess that I have been among the number called common, as I had sup- 

 posed that all food taken up by the tree Is in liquid form, and we all know that it has been demou- 

 straled repeatedly that this is the otHce of the spongioles. 



As the intention of this jiaper is to give some of the results of root pruning for the prevention of 

 pear blight, it must necessarily be brief, as I have not had as much experience in the matter, nor 

 investigated it as thoroughly, as Dr. Hull, wlio is the author and champion of root pruning to pre- 

 vent blight. In my own case the efl'ects have been highly satisfactory; I believe, in every single 

 instance, it has been a success exceeding my own expectations; and, in some two or three instances 

 that I am conversant with, olf from my own place where tried, is e([ually satisfilctory. Dr. Haskell, 

 of Alton, has informed me of his success in every instance; and Mr. Phinney also of Alton, informed 

 me not long since of his experience; he says some time ago the blight attacked his pear trees and he 

 root pruned, and he did it severely so that the trees actually leaned over ami he thought they would 

 die, but they cauie out all right and there is no appearance of the pest. 



There seems to be a want of nerve, or some doubt and hesitation, in accepting this remedy for 

 this disease. There may be a want of confi<lence, or fear, by some— to relate my experience may 

 Induce some to try it. Cases have come imder mj- observation where trees have borne good croiJS 

 year after year, and their owners have considered themselves fortunate in their locations, but have 

 had to stand by and witness the destruction of all their hopes in one or two short weeks. Some ob- 

 ject to its practice on the ground that it will shorten the lives of their trees. To this class I say 

 "hope on." My experience is, that in nine cases out of ten, the blight will shorten them quicker 

 and at less expense; and with regard to the profit of two ways of shortening the lile of the tree, 

 there certainly is a great choice. Tliat it will dwarf the trees, to a certain extent, all admit; but I 

 consider this no serious olijection. as I prefer a healthy dwarf to a sickly standard. By this I do not 

 mean to recommend dwarfing on the quince for commercial orcharding. Dr. Hull has given us so 

 many times his rule and plans for performing root pruning, that I leave this part of the subject by 

 simply saying that I have done it very severely on some trees and they, to-day, are healthy and 

 make as good a growth as trees not disturbed. 



As every one has a reason why he does anj'thing in all kind of business, I will try and give my 

 reasons for commencing root pruning. In the th-st place, if done properly, (and every one mnst 

 judge for himself about this,) it is a first-rate cultivation, by furnishing fresh soil and food near the 

 tree; but the principal reason was the loss of three hundred trees in one year by the blight. I did 

 not stoii to see if they would all die, but argued that if Dr. Hull practiced root pruning an<l did not 

 lose ten or fifteen per cent, of his trees. I might do the same and save a part of mine. I commenced 

 Immediately, (this was about the first of August, IStiT)— the result, to my nnnd was satisfactory. 

 Some may ask, how I could tell, as perhaps the trees root pruned would not have blighted? AVell it 

 might have been so, but as I consider it too exiiensive to continue the old experiment of waiting 

 and watching, and then let the blight help me out of my dithculty, I must refer the solution of the 

 question to some one more willing to sacrifice their pear trees for the benefit of horticulture. The 

 trees then root pruned, that had no blight in, are healthy and growing finely. As to the jiroi^ertime 

 to do it, I give the in-eference to early spring, as the ground is soft and it is easier; and it is a time 

 when we are more at leisure than any other time of the season. As to how often it is necessarj' to 

 be done, my rule is, when you discover a tree making more than six to ten inches of growth, mark 

 it and root prune as soon as possible. Do it thoroughly. Make a note of your experience and 

 report. In this way we can helij each other over some of the difficult places in horticultural knowl- 

 edge and gain reliable information, which is the study of us all. 



As our society has a committee appointed on root pruning, I should like to see it continued, with 

 leave to bring in a report at any time w^ien they have reliable data to form such a report from, that 

 will prove interesting to us all. None of us arc so self-sacrificing as to wish to build up false theories 

 or doctrines at our own expense; but when a new idea comes up, give it a careful investigation and 

 report on its merits honestly. There have been some reports in regard )o this theory that I pre- 

 sume would not bear investigation; for instance, if people will wait until the blight has ajipeared 

 severely in their trees, and then root prune with the expectation of restoring their trees, they will 

 find themselves mistaken. It has not been put forth as a cure nor as a positive preventive, but as 

 the best means of controlling our trees; of having the termin;U bud form early; thus giving plenty 

 of time for thorough ripening of wood, so necessary to the prevention of attacks from fungus, which 

 I am almost persuaded to say is the cause of the jiear blight. 



H. J. HYDE. 



