CHOICE OE TREES. 19 



der to keep the wet from it, which otherwise 

 would injure the tree. To equal parts of 

 soft soap, and tar, add a little bees wax, let 

 them be boiled together, and when cold they 

 may be used. 



The necessity of pruning in and dressing 

 mangled roots, is more particularly required 

 in trees of the stone fruit, such as Peach and 

 Nectarines, &c. for without the application 

 of some remedy, they gum at the roots, 

 which defect if not counteracted, very mate- 

 rially injures the upper part of the tree. And 

 from this circumstance, I have seen trees so 

 affected as never to recover afterwards ; when 

 if the little attention already directed had 

 been applied, such injurious effects would 

 have been prevented. 



Should a strong leading root be damaged \ 

 near to a lateral one, it should be cut off/ 

 close to it; for I have observed that when\ 

 such a strong root has required pruning in, I 

 and it has not been cut close up to the last( 

 lateral, but an inch or more has been left, 

 that the part so remaining has frequently 

 rotted, and that afterwards the upper part of 

 the tree has been affected by it. I have 

 taken up trees that were sickly, and have \ 

 found the cause originating in the manner / 

 alluded to. The reason of such part rotting 

 is, the descending fluid having a channel so 

 near the end of the part left, it is diverted 

 into it, and spends itself in the nearest fibres ; 



