ROOT-PRUNING 23 



below the bud, and thus furnish a shoot and prevent an 

 unsightly gap. 



Summer-pruning can be commenced early in August 

 in the warmer counties, but it should be completed in that 

 month. I have said already that if the pruning is done 

 earlier secondary growths form, and these weaken the tree 

 and keep the sap active when rest is needed. If, however, 

 secondary shoots are made, rub them out in September. 



CHAPTER V 

 ROOT-PRUNING 



THIS is a very important point in the culture of fruit. It 

 frequently happens that after the second year of planting, 

 through the soil being rich or fresh, newly planted trees 

 make gross growth, and in order to keep them in shape 

 very severe pruning is carried out ; but this only makes 

 the trees produce still stronger wood, and the formation 

 of fruit buds is thus arrested. 



In these cases a systematic root-pruning is the only 

 desirable way of bringing the tree into a fertile condition. 

 At the end of October, or as soon as possible afterwards, 

 open a trench 3 feet from the main stem and shorten any 

 roots of strong growth that may be found, pulling out 

 the ends, not leaving them in the soil. If, however, but 

 few are found, it is the tap root which must be severed 

 by working well under the tree. After doing all the root- 



