1873.] STONE FRUITS AND HARD SOIL. 377 



and the foundation of a sound tree will be formed. Avoid the use of 

 the knife in winter if possible, and if root-pruning should become 

 necessary, let it be done early in the autumn, — but examine the roots 

 first at one side, taking oif none except they may be going downwards, 

 or away from heat and air, — replace the soil (or fresh loam instead), 

 and ram it as hard as possible under the roots, and lay every fibre 

 carefully in its place, and cover them over as before. A very small por- 

 tion of the tree thus treated will be enough to check unnecessary growth, 

 and large firm leaves, plenty of natural fruit-spurs, and a hardy tree, 

 will be the reward. The cutting round the whole tree with a spade, 

 as some have done, is reckless and mischievous in the extreme. 



If too rich soil should be the cause of watery growth, lift the tree 

 and mix some lime rubbish in the earth ; ram it down, and lay out 

 the roots over it, and place 6 inches of loam over them. This should 

 be done as the leaves are about to fall in autumn. 



Speaking of the Vine, how often do we see promising young rods 

 bear well for a few years, their roots filling the porous border. They 

 begin to fall off : extra top-dressing is given, shanking goes on, red- 

 spider destroys the foliage ; yet all seems right at the roots. But care- 

 ful examination will show that the feeders have found their way into 

 a poor unhealthy subsoil, and as fast as fresh rootlets are made they 

 die. The fine rich border is left behind, and all the manuring, water- 

 ing, &c., is so much labour thrown away. The points of the roots are 

 beyond help, so the vinery by degrees becomes a wreck. But if As- 

 paragus-beds, or a free sound loam, is in the way of the roots, instead 

 of unhealthy stuff, the Vines will not only remain healthy and vigorous, 

 but be rejuvenated. The same applies to all trees, even to the Oak 

 of the forest : a tree may grow luxuriantly for years, and at last begin 

 to fail (hundreds around me are striking examples). If the cause was 

 searched after, the active roots would be found far from the trunk, out 

 of the reach of the famous loam which had made the gigantic tree, 

 and struggling for an existence among material foreign to their na- 

 ture. We should never despise the lessons which old trees in cottagers* 

 gardens teach us, but search out the cause of their success, and it will 

 be found that the roots are in their natural element ; and the roots of 

 our own trees (which are growing at railway speed) are in unusually 

 rich quarters, where they will luxuriate till they bring about their own 

 destruction. M. Temple. 



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