148 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNER. 



these in due time for the next season, and so the sub- 

 terraneous action goes on year by year. 



Few will credit the distance that the roots of trees 

 will travel in search of food for the supply of the 

 branches. I have noticed particularly that most kinds 

 send out their roots a few inches under the surface of 

 the ground, and this is the case with the Plum, the 

 Apple, and the Peach. "When the soil on which they 

 grow is not dug, I have also found that the roots of 

 Grape Vines will creep along a few inches below the 

 surface, especially where the sun shines upon it. These 

 facts go far to prove the necessity of giving the roots as 

 well as the branches the benefit of the sun. I have 

 further carefully noticed that when Plum-trees and 

 Cherry-trees (and even the Pear) have been planted on 

 north and north-west walls (which is frequently the 

 case) that little or no fruit can ever be had from them. 

 They grow freely enough, and there it ends ; and I am 

 more than ever convinced of the necessity for the care- 

 ful study of physiological botany, or the underground 

 action of trees, especially fruit trees. 



A good slope facing the full sun all day is no doubt 

 the best aspect for fruit trees in general, especially for 

 the Pear, as the latter is more inclined to go deeper 

 into the soil below than the stone fruits are. If the 

 Pear is planted in a deep flat soil, the roots will pene- 

 trate deeper than they should, and the consequence is 

 that they will grow too freely and bear less fruit ; on 

 the other hand, if planted on sharp slopes, the sun will 

 get at the roots more readily, and the trees will not 

 gtfow so freely and will bear abundantly. 



Now, in regard to the lifting and transplanting of 

 Peach and Plum trees, as they are treated in this work 

 under their respective heads, I wish to say that, when- 

 ever it is necessary to do so, which will often be the 

 case, as I have shown, and which must never be . 

 omitted when a Peach, Plum, or Pear gets to an over- 

 luxuriant state, especially under the close " cordon " 

 treatment and ''renovation" plan, let me advise that 

 the "lifting" and "replanting" be done carefully; 



