270 SOME SPECIFIC ADVICE 



retains its dwarf ness of itself, without artificial 

 aid. It is the nature of such plants to be dwarf. 

 The manner of their origin is usually obscure, 

 and it appeals to the plant -breeder.* The sec- 

 ond class is forced to be dwarf by some treat- 

 ment which is applied to each individual plant. 

 Plants are dwarfed by three means, 



By grafting or budding on a slower -growing 

 root ; 



By confining the tops by means of pruning or 

 training ; 



By confining the roots by means of pruning or 

 by growing in pots, boxes, or other re- 

 stricted place. 



The first category is not a subject for discussion 

 in a pruning -book, but it may be said that it is 

 not enough that the plant be worked on slow- 

 growing root: it must also be systematically 

 headed -in if its stature is to be kept within 

 bounds. This is true of dwarf pears, dwarf 

 apples, dwarf cherries, and all the rest. 



Root -pruning, as a means of limiting growth, 

 has already been discussed (page 227) . In prac- 

 tice, it is nearly unknown in this country. In 

 small areas it can be employed, but it is inappli- 

 cable to our commercial plantations. 



*A discussion of dwarfs from the breeder's standpoint may. be 

 found in "Plant-Breeding;" from the propagator's standpoint, in "The 

 Nursery -Book ;" and from the fruit-grower's standpoint, in "Principles of 

 TPruit-Growing." 



