GENERAL PRACTICE. ROOT-PRUNING. i 77 



are intact. The cut was an upward one, and the roots resulting proceeded from 

 the upper side of the cut, stimulating the fibres on that side as shown in the figure. 

 The consequence is they bear any reasonable weight or strain in lifting, and the 

 advantages are well defined in the dotted lines showing them spread near the surface 

 in planting. 



Eoot-pruning with the spade answers very well when the trees are young, but 

 there is a practice of using it which disastrously affects fertility, for digging the 

 ground over and among roots only causes them to penetrate deeper. This kind of 

 root-pruning cuts off the fruit-producing portions, and leaves those unpruned which 

 form the fruitless growths. This is contrary to correct root-pruning principles. The 

 intelligent pruner does not destroy but seeks the manufacture of fibres for the sub- 

 stantial reasons above indicated. 



Fruit trees do not require systematic root-pruning until they exhibit a tendency to 

 depart from a healthy fruit-bearing condition into excessive wood production. They 

 are apt to do this in deep rich soils, especially when they have little or no fruit to 

 support for a year or two through frost destroying the blossom. When too luxuriant, 

 root-pruning must be had recourse to as a means of insuring moderate growth and 

 productiveness. The proper mode is to remove the soil outwards from the stem as far 

 as the main roots extend, then shorten the long ones and those that have the fewest 

 fibres the most, the smaller and most fibrous the least ; but a sufficient number in all 

 cases ought to be left for forming fresh roots, and they should not be shortened to 

 an even length, but left of different lengths so that the fibres may push equally from 

 the stem. Vertical roots should be cut off, but in no case must their severance be 

 carried to extremes, nor done in a reckless manner. It usually suffices to detach 

 one-third from the roots, but the condition of the tree will determine the extent of 

 shortening needed. Eegard must also be had to the space set apart for the trees. If 

 this is limited the roots must be correspondingly restricted, the strong as a rule requiring 

 severe, and the others light, pruning. All detached roots should, as far as practicable, 

 be removed from the soil, and a little fresh compost placed under and over those 

 retained, making it firm, and finishing by mulching the surface with partially- decayed 

 littery manure. 



The operation of root-pruning is not in itself desirable, but the natural habits of 

 trees on the free stock in favourable soils is to defer bearing, particularly in the pear, 

 the roots being nearly all perpendicular ; therefore in root-pruning trees of this character 



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