584 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct., 1916. 



weak growth. Eig. 1 was the weakest tree at the time the tops of 

 Fiffs 2 and 3 were removed, but on account of not having been inter- 

 fered with, it became the strongest at the end of the period of growth. 



When the tops are re- 

 moved as explained, the 

 shoot sent up from the 

 terminal buds (c) (Figs. 

 1 and 2) on the young 

 softwood usually runs to 

 the vertical, forming 

 an objectionable centre, 

 which has to be re- 

 moved, when planted 

 out, in order to start 

 the frame work of the 

 tree on proper lines. As 

 a rule, when trees are 

 treated in this manner 

 in the nursery, to pre- 

 maturely form heads, 

 they are usually cut 

 too high. To remedy 

 this defect, when they 

 are planted out in the 

 orchard the whole of 

 this head should be re- 

 moved by cutting at (d), 

 when a natural branch 

 system may be estab- 

 lished from the three 

 buds, on the stronger 

 wood, immediately below 

 that point. 



When trees are being 

 planted out in the 

 orchard, their roots are 

 usually cut back to about 

 6 inches. But as an 

 experiment, the roots of 

 these trees were almost 

 completely removed, as 

 shown in Plate 21. The 

 strong root or foot in 

 Plate 20, Fig. 1 (e) was 

 produced to the detri- 

 ment of the remainder 

 of the root system. In- p^ate 20.— Typical Young Trees. 



itnl "of Un^lt' afsTown in Plate 21, Fig. 1 (»). .t should have been 

 completely removed by cutting at the base. 



In the case of Figs. 2 and 3, there were no strong roots, but the 

 fibrous ones Avere severely dealt with. The trees were then planted out 



