OF DWARF FRUIT TREE CULTURE. 51 



the shelter in the spring advances the maturity by fully ten days. 

 This result has been repeatedly proven. 



ROOT PRUNING. 



Root pruning is a manipulation little practiced in this country, 

 and very little understood by the horticulturist, but in dwarf tree 

 culture it is frequently absolutely necessary as the only available 

 means of checking a too rampant growth. The important point in 

 dwarf tree culture is keeping the root system completely under con- 

 trol, and changing from the natural wide and deep stretching roots 

 of the ordinary apple tree to a close mass of fibrous feeding roots. 

 Our first effort in effecting this change is the grafting of the free 

 growing cion on some of the natural dwarfing stock, as before 

 mentioned. Sometimes, owing to extra fertility of the soil, or other 

 natural cause, the little tree refuses to be controlled and becomes 

 rebellious and starts into a too rampant growth that would upset 

 all our expectations and utterly spoil our work, consequently we are 

 compelled to use heroic measure, which is, in fact, "striking at the 

 root of the trouble." When we first find our little tree obstreperous 

 we give it the first lesson by curtailing its tap root, this is accom- 

 plished by forcing a sharp spade obliquely under the roots until the 

 tap root is severed. If that lesson is not effectual, we administer the 

 next dose the next season by forcing a sharp spade perpendicularly 

 into the ground at varying distances from the tree, according to its 

 size, and dig in a circle HALF WAY AROUND THE TREE, not 

 turning the soil, but merely cutting the superficial roots. The next 

 year repeat the dose half way around the other side of the tree, 

 Sometimes we dig up the tree entirely, trim the roots and return it 

 back to where it had been growing; this is best done in the fall or 

 winter, and does not interfere with the fruiting the next season. 

 Root pruning is hardly ever necessary in potted trees farther than 

 trimming them if necessary at the annual repotting, as by changing 

 them from smaller to larger pots, as occasion requires; we have the 

 roots entirely under control. The result of all this severe treat- 

 ment is that our little tree accepts the correction and abandons its 

 evil way and goes to work bearing still more and more beautiful 

 fruit, thus illustrating the wisdom of Solomon in "training the 

 child in the way he should go." 



The new course is a very important and interesting phase of 

 dwarf fruit culture, embracing hybridization and cross fertilization. 



