80 



little if any fruit. Boot-pruning will check such growths most effectu- 

 ally and render the trees fruitful. The operation is performed by dig- 

 ging out a circular trench at a distance of from 3 to 6 feet from the 

 stem, according to the size of the tree, and cutting all the roots that 

 are encountered or can be reached. The soil is again thrown back and 

 the process is completed. If done in August, the supply of sap will 

 immediately be lessened, the wood-maturing principle accelerated, the 

 fruit buds formed. The operation has beeu performed in. spring with 

 but little benefit, but if done in the fall can not fail in. producing the 

 desired results. 



Root-pruning has been successfully applied to young evergreens that, 

 in consequence of growing late in fall, are liable to have the points of 

 shoots injured by early frost. When growth is stopped by root-prun- 

 ing the shoots mature sufficiently to withstand the winter without be- 

 ing injured. A few years of such treatment when the plant is young 

 is found sufficient, as the specimen will attain hardihood with age. 



BY RINGING THE BRANCHES. 



This operation is performed by removing a ring of the bark from a 

 branch, so as to arrest circulation. This, however, is done with a view 

 to hastening the ripening process of fruit, and has long been practiced, 

 particularly on the grape vine. It is, however, of doubtful utility, as 

 the branch beyond the point of operation is destroyed. It has the effect 

 of not only hastening the ripening, but the fruit will be somewhat in- 

 creased in size. Grapes produced in this manner are easily recognized 

 by their thick skins and the coarse texture of the fruit. 



BY LIMITING ROOT GROWTH. 



The most satisfactory application of the principle is that of restrict- 

 ing the growth by confining the roots in pots, boxes, or other similar 

 conveniences, as is well exemplified by the great crops produced on 

 fruit trees in pots. Florists are also alive to the fact that their flower- 

 ing plants will blossom most profusely when the pots become well filled 

 with roots. 



IMPORTANCE OP A UNIFORM SUPPLY OF WATER IN PLANT 



CULTURE. 



If there is any one element in plant growth of more importance than 

 another it is water. Crops usually fail or succeed in proportion as they 

 receive an equal distribution or uniform supply of this element. Fail- 

 ures are more frequently referred either to a deficiency or a surplus of 

 rainfalls than to any other cause. Hence one of the chief essentials to 

 culture is to maintain the presence of a proper amount of available 

 water to crops, and, as far as practicable, guard against excess on either 

 side. And this is entirely within the control of the cultivator. The three 

 operations of draining, subs, piling, and middling, when properly undef- 



