840 



THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



them deserve to be in the class " outside the gate with the dogs, 

 sorcerers, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." 



ROOT PRUNING 



Not infrequently advice is given, setting forth the advantages of 

 root pruning," but merely to set the seal of my disapproval on the 

 practice have I introduced the subject here. It is justifiable only 



FIG. 229. IMPROPER CUTTING OF LIMB (LEFT). 

 PROPER CUTTING OF LIMB (EIGHT). THE 

 STUB IN THE FORMER CASE WILL NEVER 

 HEAL. THE DECAY OF SUCH STUBS USUALLY 

 EXTENDS TO THE HEARTWOOD. 



(Copied from Report of Proceeding* of the Western 

 Xctc York Horticultural Society, 1911.) 



when broken or injured roots are removed before setting yning 

 trees, and when the ends of main roots are cut slantingly in order 

 that they may rest upon the earth instead of projecting into it. 

 From these shortened ends, root hairs will quickly start, from 

 which the tree may obtain sustenance. In other cases our advice on 

 root pruning is the same as that given by Hoyle in bridge whist as 

 to trumping the trick of one's partner "Don't! " I have seen 

 most serious injury immediately follow deep plowing when large 

 rjoots were broken ; and late spring plowing, which destroys many 

 of the feeding rootlets, is always to be condemned. While it is 

 true that a severe breaking or cutting of roots in a neglected 

 orchard is sometimes followed by abundant fruiting, such fruiting 

 is the supreme effort of Nature to reproduce, and it is usually 



