ORCHARDS. 123 



employed in producing and maturing fruit buds for the next 

 year. 



The proper time for root pruning is in the Fall or Winter. 

 It is effected by removing the soil from the roots and cutting 

 them off a few feet from the tree ; the distance must be regu- 

 lated according to the size of the tree — the larger roots are 

 cut off, and the ends should be smoothly paired or cut. Eng- 

 lish nurserymen practice root pruning in this way: They dig 

 a trench or ditch during the Fall, November is preferred^ 

 about eighteen inches deep around their trees with a sharp 

 spade, cutting off all the roots as smoothly as possible. The 

 distance from the tree varies according to the size and luxu- 

 riance of its growth. By adopting this practice, they cause 

 their trees to bear early and full crops, and force apples and 

 pears and other fruits grafted on their own roots to bear 

 abundantly as dwarfs; and, treated in this way, they can be 

 grown from six to eight feet apart and thinned in a conical 

 form. 



The ends of the roots cut off in trenching round the tree 

 are abundantly supplied with suitable manure, mixed with soil 

 in the ditch to keep up their health and a proper degree 

 of vigor. Trees dwarfed in this way, by annual root prun- 

 ing, become very prolific. The plan is well suited to growing 

 trees on a small surface, and to the gardens of amateurs. 



An excellent English author in writing on this subject men- 

 tions the following advantages to be derived from systematic 

 root pruning. 



"1. The facility of thinning (owing to the small size of 

 the trees) and, in some varieties, of setting the blossoms of 

 shy-bearing sorts, and of thinning and gathering the fruit. 



"2. It will make the gardener independent of the natural 

 soil of his garden, as a few barrowsfuU of rich mould will 

 support a tree for a lengthened period ; thus placing bad soils 

 nearly on a level with those the most favorable. 



'•3. The capability of removing trees of fifteen or tw^enty 

 years' growth, with as much facility as furniture. To tenants 

 this will indeed be a boon, for perhaps one of the greatest an- 

 noyances a tenant is subjected to, is that of being obliged to 



