240 



SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



roots cut back,"* as in Fig. 158. It is impossible 

 to cut Fig. 158 to the form of Fig. 157, because 

 the root did not grow in the same way. 

 This is true of most trees, especially if 

 budded stock ; they cannot be cut ac- 

 cording to directions. Peach trees lend 

 themselves most readily to this form ; 

 also cutting -grown pear trees (such as 

 are grown in the South). The theory 

 is that the new roots arise from the 

 under surfaces of roots which are cut 

 as in Fig. 157, and then grow directly 

 downwards. Fig. 159 is Brunk's model 

 of a peach tree properly trimmed, show- 

 ing both root and top, the whole being 

 only fifteen inches long. -Fig. 160 shows 

 the results which Mr. Stringfellow secures 

 from stub -roots and long roots. 



In 1896, experiments on 

 the stub -root pruning were 

 begun at Cornell, and these 

 are now reported. This 

 account of the tests is in- 

 serted more for the purpose 

 of affording concrete in- 

 stances with which to discuss 

 the statements advanced in 

 support of stub -root prun- 



159. Brunk's 

 model. 



*"Hold the tree top down, and cut all roots back to about an inch, 

 sloping the cuts so that when the tree is set the exit surface is down- 



