418 REPORT OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The Stringfellow method of root pruning has also been tested at 

 the Georgia Station," the trees being planted in red loam ^\-ith a stiff 

 red-clay subsoil. At this station it was found that the best root 

 systems were secured when the roots had been cut back to 1-inch 

 taps. The roots from these trees penetrated to a greater depth than 

 in any otlier system, but in no case did they penetrate perpendicu- 

 larl}", as claimed by Mr. Stringfellow. H. N. Starnes, who conducted 

 the experiment, concluded that he is fairly satisfied that peach trees 

 prunded b}' the Stringfellow method will live and flourish in that 

 section even in stiff clay soil and under adverse meteorological con- 

 ditions. In these experiments little difference, if any, was observable 

 between the rows whose tops had been pruned back to 12, 18, or 23 

 inches, respectively, all branching equally low. 



H. W. Collingwood reports ^ that he planted peach trees in New 

 York by cutting the tops back 12 to 15 inches long and removing all 

 side roots so as to leave a stem below ground as smooth as a lead 

 pencil. These trees were set in light sanch" soil which had not been 

 plowed for thirty years and was in part so poor that only a few" coarse 

 weeds would grow on it. This field was not cleared and the holes for 

 setting were made about 10 inches dee]) with a crowbar. A little 

 sand was then put in and then the peach tree. More sand was put 

 about the tree, water poured in and the hole filled up with eartli, 

 packing it firmly around the stub thus planted. Thus treated the 

 trees made a satisfactory growth, but it is recommended that for 

 practical purposes stubs should be left on tlie roots 1 to 2 inches long. 

 This anchors the tree more firmly to the soil and thus prevents it 

 from being whirled about by the wind or lifted hj frost. 



In a trial of the Stringfellow root jjruning method at the Alabama 

 Station ' with eight varieties of peaches neither increase nor decrease 

 of vigor in growth could be detected as a result of the practice. At 

 the Arkansas Station '' stub-root pruning was less satisfactory than 

 moderate j)runing of the roots. Likewise at the New Jersey Stations *" 

 results were considerably in favor of trees root pruned in the usual 

 manner. At the Texas Station'' Price states tliat "wdthout drawing 

 positive and definite conclusions, it seems evident so far as this soil 

 and climate are concerned that severe top and root pruning are not 

 advisable." The best results at that station have been secured by 

 pruning the top of young trees down to about 18 or 20 inches and the 

 roots back to within 6 inches of the trunk. 



" Georgia Sta. Bui. 40. 



'' Rural New Yorker, 6:5 (1904). No. 2824. p. 206. 



t Alabama Sta. Bui. 98. 



"^ Arkansas Sta. Bui. 79. 



« New Jersey Stas. Rpts. 1900. p. 20:5 ; IKOl. p. 253. 



/Texas Sta. Bui. :W. 



