KULES FOE PEUNING. 171 



filling in the trench with compost for the roots to rest on ; the trench 

 may then be filled with compost and the mold from an old hot-bed, 

 equal parts will answer exceedingly well ; the sm^ace should then be 

 covered with half-rotted dimg, and the roots left till the following 

 autumn brings its annual care. It may bo found that, after a few years 

 of root-pruning, the circumferential mass of fibres will have become too 

 matted, and that some of the roots are bare of fibres toward the stem. 

 This will cause them to give out fibres, so that the entire circle of three 

 or more feet around the tree is full of fibrous roots near the soirface, 

 waiting with open mouths for the nourishment annually given to them 

 by surface-dressing and liquid manures. Handsome pyramidal trees 

 may be produced by shortening the shoots in the summer, and if they 

 are inclined to grow too vigorously, occasional (say biennial or triennial) 

 root-pruning by the spade, will be sufficient." 



I here introduce Me. Riyees' plan of root-pruning, 

 although quite unadapted to our necessities, in order 

 that the reader may have an opportunity of observing 

 what is called high cultivation. 



It should be understood by every one that reads this 

 article, that the requisites for fonning fruit-spurs are, 

 fibrous roots well supplied with nutriment. While 

 the trees are making only long cane-like roots, there 

 will be no supply of sufficiently-digested pabulum for 

 fruit. 



The intention of most cultivators in this country 

 being to produce large pyramids, the annual pruning 

 of roots would be an unnecessary labor, especially on 

 the quince stock. On the pear stock, biennial root- 

 pruning, by thrusting down a spade, after having dug 

 a trench one spade deep, at the proper distance from 

 the stem, is sufficient. One other variation from Mr. 

 KivEEs' recommendations is the time in which this 

 root-pruning is to be performed. If it is delayed until 

 all fruit is gathered, t]ie Virap and the ^Vinter varie- 



