32 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



seen them pruned to a bare stem. The sap always goes to the 

 highest point, therefore the last bud will make the strongest shoot 

 and the tree should branch evenly. This tree shows that it was 

 not properly pruned in the nursery, as here is a branch growing 

 towards the centre, and the central shoot is growing a little to one 

 side. It is the Early Harvest variety, which has a natural tend- 

 ency to " huddle up " its top. 



People often complain that there is too little root to young trees 

 received from nurserymen. Long roots are unnecessary in culti- 

 vation ; more small roots and fibrous roots are far preferable. In 

 removing long roots or bruised or spade-cut roots, always cut 

 from the under side. When planting or resetting a tree, fill in the 

 earth around the roots carefully and firmly ; fingers are the best 

 tools for this purpose. After the roots are covered put on 

 fertilizer — not coarse manure, but a mixture composed of eight 

 parts of bone phosphate, eight parts of muriate of potash and four 

 parts of nitrate of soda. The large roots do not feed the tree, 

 but the feeders are produced from these large roots. There is sap 

 enough stored up in a healthy young tree to last until feeding 

 roots are developed anew. Bone-dust is not all soluble, but in 

 time the tree will absorb the most of it. Do not put in too much 

 fertilizer at the planting, nor at any one time ; it is not economy 

 to put plant-food into the soil for a tree to use two or three years 

 hence ; it is better to give some each year. 



An unshapely tree shows its defects conspicuously. Horizontal 

 limbs should be so pruned as to have the last bud left on the 

 upper or top side, that its future growth shall be upward ; and the 

 other limbs are to be pruned to grow in desired directions. This 

 tree, as I have pruned it, will in a few years have a well-balanced 

 top. • 



Here is a Bartlett pear tree ; it is well shaped but the limbs are 

 too long ; the roots, running directly downward, are no better for 

 so much length ; cut them oif several inches in proportion to their 

 length. A tree should be two years old when planted out. 

 Always leave the strongest and most upright shoot for the centre. 

 When there are two shoots of nearly equal size, cut the one 

 nearest to straight over the centre of the plant longer, to form 

 the new leader. Cut the other not over six inches long, leaving 

 the last bud upon it on the outside, to throw the new shoot farther 

 off and out. 



