328 SATURDAY IN MY GARDEN 



not less important, has been proceeding underneath. Long 

 shoots above the ground must have their counterpart in long roots 

 within it. This accumulation of root-power has had the effect of 

 producing stronger branch growths with each succeeding year 

 until the trees have become little better than thickets. Fruit- 

 bearing has become an impossibility. 



A very simple operation is all that is necessary to obviate this 

 difficulty. It is what is known as root-pruning, and Diagram 56 

 shows how this should be done. The long tap-roots that have been 

 formed, and which thrust themselves down into the unproductive 

 subsoil, must be cut back. It is sometimes necessary to prune 

 all round the roots of a tree, but in most cases it is found efficacious 

 if one-half be cut back one year and the remainder in the succeed- 

 ing year or the third year. 



A trench is dug round the tree to a depth of two feet, and at a 

 distance from the main stem of not less than four feet. The soil 

 is carefully drawn away from the tree so as to expose the roots, 

 and the thickest and grossest of them are then cut asunder. In 

 the case of an old tree it may be necessary to use a saw, but as a 

 rule a sharp pruning knife will be found sufficient. The cut 

 should be made upwards, towards the person and away from the 

 trunk of the tree. Carefully replace the remaining root in a hori- 

 zontal position, cover over with soil, and make it firm. From the 

 shortened roots new fibrous roots will be thrown out, and it is 

 these which will in the succeeding seasons supply the proper 

 nour shment to the tree. 



In the case of a wall tree the whole area of the roots will be 

 brought under inspection at the same time, The effect of root- 

 pruning will not be wholly apparent until the second year after 

 the operation has been accomplished, because the fruit buds for 

 the following year have already been formed. It will, however, 

 have the immediate effect of checking the formation of wood, and 

 this will be all to the advantage of the tree. 



The summer pruning of fruit trees may be accomplished with 

 advantage both to the prospect of the present year's crop and to 

 the future well-being of the trees. Experts differ with regard to 



