THIRTEENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 



41 



different times to study their root growth. In every case the 

 bottom of the root had calloused over and little tap roots had 

 formed, which started straight down into the soil. The ordi- 

 nary branched or surface roots which are found when a tree 

 with long roots is set in a large hole were not found on these 

 little trees. Later in their growth a mass of feeding roots 

 appear, and run out all over the upper soil. These trees made, 

 without any question, a deeper rooting system than the ones 

 I planted wath long roots in large holes. This was to be 

 expected, since there was no chance for the first roots to go 



Fig. 3. — A mulch of stones. 



anywhere save straight down. These neglected trees headed 

 close to the ground and made a fair growth the first season. 

 The summer was very dry. I had been assured by good peach 

 growers that trees so closely pruned would not start, and 

 could not endure the hot season. That was the chief reason 

 I neglected most of them — in order that the system might be 

 tried under the worst possible conditions as well as under more 

 favorable ones. In the fall we planted larger trees in the places 

 where the JMountain Rose trees had died. These we also close 

 root-pruned. The trees had no protection through the winter. 



