Established Fruit Trees 



October ist until mid- January for winter moths, 

 and when the Mottled Umber and March moths are 

 present the period extends to May. 



ROOT PRUNING. 



This operation should not be done periodically as 

 in the case of branch pruning. It often happens 

 that mistakes in manuring such as an overdose of 

 nitrogenous manure may cause a fruit tree to 

 make very vigorous growth, and excessive winter 

 pruning of the branches may also have the same 

 effect. Then the tree seems to produce much wood 

 and very little fruit. In such cases root pruning is 

 often resorted to for the purpose of checking the 

 excessive growth. A circular trench 2 feet wide 

 and 2 feet deep is first dug out around the tree, 

 then the operator begins to delve under the soil 

 which is left attached to the smaller roots in the 

 endeavour to sever some of the long roots, some- 

 times miscalled tap-roots, w r hich are usually to be 

 found striking deeply down into the soil directly 

 under such a tree. The trench is marked out with 

 the help of a piece of string, one end of which is 

 tied to the tree and the other to a wooden label or 

 pointed stick ; with this stick in his hand the 

 operator simply walks round the tree marking out 

 a circle on the soil with the stick as he goes. The 

 inner side of this trench should be at least 2 feet 

 from the trunk of the tree, and it is usually made 

 in two halves, one half being made and filled in 

 before the other half is started. (See also page 32.) 



