i879-] HARDY FRUITS. 495 



cultivates for market, begins his root-pruning as soon as he sees that 

 wood and leaves are being formed, and an absence of fruit. He is 

 evidently no novice — he secures abundance of fruit, which brings the 

 highest price in market. I have long advocated lifting of roots, and 

 done a fair amount of cutting, but it was always where they could not 

 be lifted up level without bending them so as to cause the growth of 

 suckers ; and in no case did I ever see injury from the practice. 

 I always prefer beginning in June or July along with stopping of the 

 wood, so that the roots may become healed up and fibre formed before 

 winter. One writer always lets his roots go, and when they cannot 

 be made to fruit by mulching with manure, he grubs them out and 

 plants young ones. I think few cultivators with a fair share of 

 common -sense would think of carrying out this practice to the 

 letter. We advise giving good wholesome top-dressings to the surface 

 when there are " surf ace - feeders " to benefit from such; but when 

 roots are growing down into the subsoil, away from sun and air, 

 get them up, and then top-dress to keep them up. Were it not 

 that it might lead non-practical readers astray, we could quote a 

 number of examples where root-pruning has been made short work of 

 and finished in a very summary manner during the growing season, — the 

 spade being the only instrument used for cutting them. One great 

 authority of undoubted success pointed out to us last year the differ- 

 ence of fruit, foliage, and growth of the summer-pruned roots (which 

 were something splendid) to those uncut ; but they at the time were 

 being manipulated by spade as if they were as many roots of brush- 

 wood doomed to destruction. Market-growers can do what they please 

 with their own, but not so one who cultivates for another. But enough 

 of this for the present : and we would advise young beginners to err 

 on the safe side till experience is gained. 



Bushes of Currants and Gooseberries may be lifted and replanted 

 where growth is excessive. The practice is also good in preventing 

 the dying-off of bushes by disease at their collars. The removal of 

 suckers can also be accomplished easily. 



If Raspberries are not thinned, they should have attention early, so 

 that the roots left may have every opportunity of ripening. A number 

 best roots may be saved for planting. 



Pruning may be done as soon as the" leaves are off trees, except 

 Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots, which might have a light new 

 broom swept upwards over them to take off loose leaves. Shoots 

 which are unripened at the points may have the ends cut off them, 

 which will help to stop their growth. 



In orchard-houses the chief of the fruit will be gathered. Any late 

 Plums or Peaches may be kept rather dry till they are cleared of their 

 fruit, then every effort should be made to get the wood ripened ; any 

 late growths should be pinched off. Trees planted out may require 

 lifting. This may be done at once. The trees should be turned round 



