EOOT-PliUNING. 341 



neighborhood of Chatham. The beds were upon 

 level ground, each of them being about one yard in 

 width. Between each of these beds was a trench 

 nine inches wide. The 

 beds were kept in place "^^ r^^^^^ 

 by three heights of 

 brick without mortar, 

 leaving the trench two bricks in width at the bottom. 

 When the plants were in fruit, if the ground became 

 dry, these trenches were filled with water from a 

 pump near at hand. The result was an improve- 

 ment in quantity and quality, and the extension of 

 the season. 



Root-pruning. By cultivation the roots are en- 

 couraged to extend, while the top is pruned and 

 produces such a disturbance in the flow of sap, 

 and the top not being able to dispose of the large 

 amount of sap in circulation, that various diseases, 

 such as canker, are induced. The addition of fer- 

 tility to the soil increases the difficulty, while 

 transplanting, which is virtually root-pruning, re- 

 stores the equilibrium. Therefore, by this method 

 of cutting the roots, undue luxuriance may be 

 checked. 



It encourages the formation of fruit-spurs, which 

 takes place in unpruned trees after the luxuriance 

 of growth has expended itself, and the cool weather 

 of the autumn commenced. Root-pruning hastens 

 this maturity, and consequently develops these buds 

 29* 



