Root-Pruning (if Fruit Trees. 615 



capable of being grown in rich sandy soil, so as to produce 

 good-sized roots, delicate when cooked. 



Art. XI. On Root-Pruning Fruit Trees ; ivith some Remarks on the 

 blossoming Principle, more especially in Chrysanthemums. By Ro- 

 bert Errington. 



I SEE, by some of the horticultural periodicals, that the gar- 

 dening world has at last become alive to the utility of root- 

 pruning fruit trees in cases of over-luxuriance. The merit of 

 the invention is claimed, I perceive, by or for Mr. Rivers of Saw- 

 bridgeworth. Now, on referring to the Gardener'' s Magazine, 

 for Dec. 1830, p. 693., a paper will be found by me on the sub- 

 ject at that early period. I have not any very particular anxiety 

 as to who may gain tllie merit, not of the invention, but the ap- 

 plication of it generally ; yet, as I rather love fair play, I should 

 like the " saddle on the right horse," if possible. I have vol. ii. 

 2d series of the Hort. Transactions now before me, in which, at 

 page 471.5 is an article by Mr. Rivers, in which he says " it is 

 about ten years since he attempted the thing." Now, whether 

 he had seen my paper or not, I cannot say, but the plan has now 

 assumed the title of Mr. " Rivers's system." I can only say 

 that 1 have pursued the plan systematically ever since, and can 

 bear ample testimony to the propriety, not to say necessity, of 

 the plan. Shallow planting, which I call the fundamental prin- 

 ciple of acclimatising, in original maiden loams, will in a great 

 degree prevent the necessity of root-pruning ; but many cases 

 will arise in moist seasons and cool summers which will call for 

 that process. It is quite evident to me, that if we cannot furnish 

 the necessary degree of heat, and more especially of solar light, 

 we must in proportion abstain from the use of stimulating ma- 

 nures. 



We are so far scientific that we can measure and apportion 

 our heat in-doors by our thermometers, but, with regard to at- 

 mospheric moisture and light, we continue to grope in the dark. 

 It is true we cannot command light, but we can regulate the 

 supply of food in proportion to the light. In many plants it ap- 

 pears necessary that the growing principle become almost station- 

 ary for a time, in order to induce the principle of fructification. 

 As an instance of this, I would adduce the various fruit trees, 

 the pine-apple, and the Chinese chrysanthemum, with a multitude 

 of others. I have some tender Flemish pears, which a few years 

 since lost the points of the young shoots every autumn ; they 

 went black, and shriveled. This I attributed to a late supply of 

 immature wood. In some I bent the branches down, in others 

 1 cut the roots, and both plans produced the desired effects, in- 

 asmuch as they induced an earlier period of rest. But for a 



