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judgment of a skillful operator will be a suffi- 

 ciently safe guide in all cases. In digging 

 the ditch, the roots of the tree should all be 

 cut off and pared smoothly even with the 

 inner side of the ditch ; and the outer frag- 

 ments of the roots should be removed as 

 cleanly from the surrounding ground as It 

 may be convenient. This done, fill the ditch 

 with generous, rich soil intermingled with the 

 specific fertilizer for the pear (Seepage 100.) 

 Head in the top of the tree judiciously, cut- 

 ting off from one-fourth to three-fourths of 

 the growth upon the last year's scions. It is 

 well, though not strictly necessary, to cover 

 these little wounds with the gum-shellac com- 

 position. This work may be done any time 

 from the first of November to the middle of 

 April, except when the ground is wet, freezing, 

 or frozen. Root-pruned dwarfs will need this 

 treatment as often as once in three years, and 

 frequently, under high cultivation, they will 

 require it once in two years, or even annually. 

 A close observation of the effects of the prun- 

 ing will be the best guide as to the necessity 

 of repeating it. 



Almost any large fruit tree, other than the 

 pear, which does not grow well, or appears 



