242 State Horticultural Society. 



takins; on carbon. It is also known that the leaves are the stomachs of 

 the plant, that all food taken np by the roots is carried here to be di- 

 gested and prepared for use. Here also the surplus water of the sap 

 is eliminated, and here the function of the root is the prehension of food 

 and here the food supply is governed by the root supply. This being 

 true the relation of the root and foliage is most important. If 

 the tree has abundant root and scant foliage, digestion is incomplete, 

 the plant fails to secure sufficient carbon from the air and retains too 

 much water. This forced feeding causes the tree to send out nu- 

 merous branches to insrease the foliage, an effort of nature to correct 

 the evil. It may become exceedingly brushy, but on the other hand if 

 the tree has abundant foliage and light root, it has too much lung and 

 stomach for the food received. The sap is now deprived of sufficient 

 water and is too much thickened to be appropriated by the plant. The 

 foliage becomes glazed, turns yellow, and it is evident plant starvation 

 is pending. Now, if we are only mindful of the relation of root and 

 foliage in the economy of plant life, either of the above difficulties 

 may be remedied readily enough. When you observe forces feeding 

 root pruning will correct it and hold in check brushy growth. If you 

 see signs of starvation a clip of branches will lessen the demands of the 

 tree to the capacity of the root supply. To make application of this 

 principle in planting the branches should be clipped to correspond with 

 the root clip caused by digging the tree. This can be properly done 

 only when the functions of the root and foliage are understood and 

 considered. In setting, when we find a tree has abundant root, we 

 clip the branches but little. If the root be meager we give a heavy 

 clip of branches. 



After the orchard has been planted two or three years, if well 

 rooted trees be set in good ground, you will find on some trees many 

 limbs standing on the body and larger branches near the body. Some 

 of these grow crosswise through the top and promise to become bad 

 rubbers. What is to be done? You are aware that this unwanted 

 growth is due to great vigor of root and forced feeding. You are also 

 aware that if you remove these rubbers you clip a top already insufficient 

 and run the risk of aggravating the forced feeding to the extent that 



