236 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



visable to exercise much care to save the very fine 

 roots when transplanting shrubs and trees, for 

 such roots are apt to be killed by short exposure 

 to the weather, and to be injured in shipping and 

 transplanting ; but the common notion that they 

 #re of no use in a transplanted tree, and that 

 new roots do not arise from them, is false. 



Within the past few years a so-called system 

 of close root -pruning has been advocated in this 

 country. It is the result of the experiments and 

 writings of H. M. Stringfellow, of Texas, and 

 has come to be known as the Stringfellow or 

 stub -root system. It cuts off practically all the 

 roots, leaving only stubs an inch or two long ; 

 and it cuts back the tops to a mere stump twelve 

 to eighteen inches high. This method of treat- 

 ing trees at transplanting time has been the 

 subject of writings which are distinguished more 

 for their controversial spirit and their evident 

 attempt to uphold an hypothesis than for any 

 clear analysis of the subject. The best exposi- 

 tion of the subject is contained in Stringfellow 's 

 "New Horticulture", published in 1896.* 



There seem to be three leading conceptions 



*Some of the current writings may be found in Texas Farm and 

 Ranch, 1895, reprinted in Galveston Tribune, Dec. 20, 1895 ; Fruit 

 Growers' Journal, Feb. 15, 1894, Feb. 1 and May 1, 1896 ; California 

 Fruit Grower, May 30, 1896. Excellent contributions in support of the 

 method, by T. L. Brunk, may be found in American Farmer, July 15, 

 1892, and Fruit-Growers' Journal, -Ian. 15, 1896. Report of experiments 

 is made in Bull. 39, Texas Exp. Sta , by R. H. Price. 



