100 REPORT—1857. 
shoots. In many cases of deep cold soils, such trees might not bear for several years 
after planting. 
To meet any ordinary contingency of drought, when the roots are thus kept near 
the surface, as in the case of the fruit-bearing specimens before you, it is necessary 
to counteract this by a simple application of surface mulching. This is one of the 
most essential items of treatment in the cultivation of almost all fruit trees, but 
especially exotic species—as the peach, nectarine, &c. Next in importance is the 
matter of periodical root-pruning as it is called. The most easy and effectual way 
in which I accomplish this is, say every second or third year, to lift the tree fairly up 
out of the ground and either put it back again in its old place, or, what is better, 
change the position somewhat. This, with a little fresh food, will do the work 
effectually ; and the result—lots of fine plump fruit. In short, the more such wig- 
rooted trees are thus handled and moved about, the more will their fruit-bearing 
tendencies increase. 
I have thus endeavoured shortly to set forth the importance of a thorough under- 
standing of the action of the root principle in fruit-bearing trees; and I may con- 
clude by adding that the same process applies equally to wall as to standard trees. 
On the Remarkable Result of an Experiment upon a Fruit-bearing Tree. 
By N. Niven, Landscape Gardener and Garden Architect, §c. 
In the book of the Revelation of St. John, it will be remembered that in the con- 
cluding chapter of that sublime portion of the sacred volume, a very wonderful tree 
is there described, prophetically, as bearing ‘‘ twelve manner of fruits, and yielding 
her fruit every month.”’ Struck with this description, the author was led to consider 
what possible approximation could be made towards such a result, with the means 
placed, under the present order of things, at his disposal. From amongst our hardy 
fruit-bearing trees he made choice of the Pear, fixing upon a highly vigorous and 
healthy young specimen then in the course of ordinary training, that had been pre- 
viously worked or grafted, and which had arrived at fruit-bearing. This tree occu 
pies a portion of the walls of his residence, having been planted on an angle of the 
building, occupying thereon two aspects, the one east, the other south or nearly 
so, the leading stem or trunk being on the angle, the side branches being horizontal, 
thus as it were at this point clasping the two walls of the house. The object aimed 
at, it will now he seen, was, if possible, to endeavour to construct a tree that would 
yield a succession of fruits for each month of the year complete. In the specimen 
fixed upon there were twenty horizontal branches on each side, thus presenting facility 
for the insertion by grafting of forty varieties or kinds of Pears. Accordingly the fol- 
lowing selection and classification of sorts were made, put on, and labelled, viz. :— 
Months. Names. Months. Names. 
For July .........|Citron des Carmes. For December ...{Beurre Bosc. 
s+eseeeee/Doyenne d’Eté. - Fi ...(Glout Morceau. 
For August .. ..ese-(Jargonelle. eo a ...|Hacon’s Incomparable. 
sf a) ete: Belle d’Aousti. nt es ..|/Winter Nelis. 
“Epc Beurre Giffart. ..|'riomphe de Joidoigne. 
For September. .|Beurre d’Amanilis. For J anuary .....|Beurre Langelier. 
3 »» +«.-/Dunmore. ye ~ ../Broome Park. 
ef »  «|Franc Réal. 3 es .../Winter Crassum. 
8 >» «.-(Colmar d’Eté. 2 ig ..|Knight’s Monarch, 
For October......;|Autumn Bergamot. = .../Soldat d’Esperen. 
rf yy eeeeeee/Beurre Spence. For February....|Easter Beurre. 
54 apt stosa Flemish Beauty. e a .|Winter Beurre. 
as »»  «eeees.[Louis Bonne of Jersey. ae ..Joséphine de Malines. 
3 3 .-.-.|Onondago. For Neavehi D2 Crassune d’hiver, 
weoorea|SECKEL. »)  «eeaee]Ne plus Meuris. 
For November... Bergamot d’Esperen. For April........./Beurre Rance. 
> yy ...[Beurre Diél. Ss »)  seeee.{Laate Bergamot. 
fas Sy --.|Colmar d’Aremberg. For May..........|Beurre Rance. 
ys by ...|Duchess d’Angouléme. »)  eeeeeeeee| Beurre Brittoneur. 
x st .../Napoleon. For June .........|Suzzette de Bavey. 
> 3 ...|Thompson’s, rahe vesaesese{Beurre Brettoneaw. 
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