284 AGRICULTURE. 



growth or asexual reproduction is so far in the 

 ascendency as to prevent the development of 

 fruit, this ofrowth should be checked. Slight 

 " heading-in induces fruitfulness by checking 

 growth and by encouraging the formation of 

 side spurs upon which fruit may be borne." '^ 



In extreme cases, where a tree has never 

 fruited, the growth may be checked by reducing 

 the food supply. This may be done by with- 

 holding fertilizers, or stopping cultivation and 

 seeding down in grass or clover for a few years, 

 or by judicious root pruning. 



Root Pritning. — Root pruning is attended by 

 considerable risk, as the equilibrum between 

 root-system and leaf-system is thus destroyed. 



There is less danger of injury to the tree when 

 the work is done in spring, as evaporation is 

 less, and the conditions at this season of the 

 year are more favorable for the readjustment of 

 the growth. 



Roots are sometimes pruned in summer, when 

 the wood and fruit buds are developing for the 

 next year; thus the formation of fruit buds would 

 be encouraged. But at this period of the year the 

 process is attended by a greater risk, as evapo- 

 ration is very great. 



The work is done by making a circular ditch 

 around the tree at a distance from the trunk 

 corresponding to the tips of the branches. One 



* Bailey's Principles ef Agriculture, p. i66. 



