58 Ohservatiojis on Root Pruning. 



conveying it to the lungs, where it is changed into blood, and 

 is thus prepared to add to the life and growth of the animal : 

 the other from the earth, conyeying it through the sap- 

 vessels to the leaves, which are the lungs of the plants : from 

 these it is returned in a suitable condition to add to the growth 

 of the plant. The leaves of a tree are just as essential to its 

 growth and health, as its roots and food, and will as certainly 

 suffer from a want of a sufficient supply as the animal whose 

 lungs are impaired. Trees too, like animals, require and do 

 periodically rest : the tree, being deprived, during this time of 

 rest, of its leaves, ceases to grow, although its functions are 

 only in part suspended : if, during this time of rest, the roots 

 are deprived of moisture any considerable length of time, the 

 tree will die. All this goes to show how essential and im- 

 portant the leaves are to the growth of the tree, and the roots 

 to the supply of the nourishment from the earth for their abil- 

 ity to perform their office. Any culture, then, that has a ten- 

 dency to prevent the forming of the largest supply of leaves, is 

 a fatal error. This is the effect of root pruning. It is evi- 

 dent, if the spongioles of the roots are cut off or mangled, the 

 plant must suffer just as the animal would, if deprived of the 

 lacteals of the stomach, and is thus deprived from the form- 

 ing new wood and leaves, until new spongioles can be formed. 

 As often, then, as this is repeated, the plant will lessen in 

 strength until its life is exhausted by this unnatural process. 



That the system of root pruning may be successfully ap- 

 plied to stunting and dwarfing trees, and forcing them into 

 fruiting, is an admitted fact, and where the durability of the 

 tree is no object, but a show of fruit of more importance, no 

 better expedient can be resorted to, to effect the object, and 

 where but limited room can be afforded, and a large variety 

 of fruit is desirable, the advocates of this system may have 

 sufficient cause for recommending it. But to those who have 

 not yet been crowded into narrow limits, and deem the dura- 

 tion of their trees of any importance, I should advise against 

 a resort to it by all means. 



The practice of root pruning is very simple ; nothing more 

 is necessary than a sharp spade : with this, the roots are cut 

 off by forcing it in the ground with the foot, across the roots, 

 a greater or less distance from the body of the tree, accord- 



