TUE SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 385 



the canes, Avliich the leaves regulate according to the requirements of the grow- 

 ing fruit, 



5. To produce the best fruit, and in })crfection, the suiall clusters of grapes, 

 when the vines set a great deal of fruit, must be cut or pinched off, leaving but 

 one bunch generally to each shoot or cane. Many vines are often so productive 

 that it is impossible for the roots to afford full sustenance to the entire crop; 

 and in such cases I remove about one half, always leaving the largest bunches, 

 and the result is splendid fruit, while that on vines not so served is of much 

 less value. — Farmer'' s Friend. 



ROOT PRUNING. 



For promoting the fertility of fruit trees, root-pruning is an operation now 

 generally resorted to. If properly carried out, it is perhaps the most certain 

 way to reduce a luxuriant tree to a fruitful state. We wish to empliasize the 

 word properly, because it is quite as possible by root-pruning to reduce a tree 

 to a state of permanent sterility as to make* it fruitful. Fruitfulness in trees 

 of luxuriant habit, such as apples, pears, and plums, and, in fact, in all other 

 trees, depends upon that balance of force between the roots and the branches 

 which, while it insures sufficient force in the branch, at the same time promotes 

 the complete maturation of the wood, and thus the fornuition of flower buds. 

 To hit tlie happy medium, to so balance the forces of the tree that fertility shall 

 be attained without merging either luxuriance or weakness, constitutes the suc- 

 cess of the careful cultivator. If, however, trees are planted, and, as is fre- 

 quently the case with the amateur cultivator, are allowed to grow on and on for 

 years, with the expectation that they will grow into fruit, the cultivator must 

 not be surprised, if root pruning is resorted to, and not very carefully carried 

 out, to find his tree thrown into a state of unfruitfulness, — sterile, in fact, until 

 such a time as sufficient force is again accumulated to form healthy growth. 

 Fortunately, however, our leading nurserymen are so particular in the stocks 

 they make use of, and resort so systematically to root pruning and transplanting, 

 that it is only by bad management after the plant leaves the nursery that the 

 balance of force will be disturbed. Such disappointments, however, do occur, 

 and generally result from mistaken kindness in using rich soils and manures. 

 When the luxuriant habit is induced, tlie wood formed is too strong and sappy 

 to form flower buds, and hence barrenness is the result. This may arise from 

 over-rich soil, or from one or more roots rushing away deep into the sub-soil, 

 where they suck up such crude matter that growth is promoted late into the 

 autumn instead of being brought into the maturing state not later than the 

 middle of August. With the luxuriant tree, and when the luxuriance is the 

 result of over-seeding for a series of years, the best plan will be found to lift it 

 out carefully from the place in which it has been growing, to shorten the 

 strongest roots, and to })lant it again almost upon the surface of the ground, 

 using a little fresh soil around the roots, and mulching the surface of the ground 

 with some spent dung or leaf mould. Carefully staked to prevent wind-waving, 

 and the branches judiciously thinned out in early spring, and those retained 

 shortened back, such a tree will be moderated in its growth the following sea- 

 son, and will almost invariably produce abundance of fruit buds. But if the 

 check be too great, sterility may be the result for a year or two, which sterility 

 Avill bo more quickly overcome by liberal treatment. 



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