Y6t 



THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



descent of the roots by a flagstone embedded in the soil about 18 inches deep where thfe 

 tree is planted, has some beneficial effect in causing the roots to spread laterally ; but the 

 character of the growth determines the nature of the roots. When the vital forces 

 are concentrated on the formation of blossom buds, the roots, in catering for the demands 

 of fruit, become branched or fibrous,, as shown on the left of Fig. 36 ; but when the 

 growths are multiplied as the results of injudicious pruning, the roots push deeper and 

 farther away, and are consequently longer and stronger, as represented on the right of 

 the figure. Thinning the branches and leaving them their full length, or but moderately 



Fig. 37. PRUNING. EFFECTS OF BRANCH SHORTENING AND ELONGATION. (For references see text.) 



shortened, and pruning the roots, as indicated by the bars in the illustration on the 

 preceding page, are the only effectual means of inducing fruitfulness under the 

 circumstances. 



The result of cutting back strong shoots is more fully represented in the upper illus- 

 tration, Fig. 37, to which attention is invited. Eeferences : 1, stem ; 2, shoot cut back 

 in winter to c, few buds of its base, and the consequent pushing of a number of growths 

 iii summer, as shown, producing nothing but leaves. These, if cut back, in turn, at the 

 marks across them, afford an increased number of shoots of the same worthless character, 

 as indicated by the dotted lines. In the lower illustration is shown the result and 

 advantages of not cutting back the summer growth at the winter pruning, when the 



