CHOICE OF TREES. 23 



the main trunk close underneath the upper 

 whirl of roots. It occasionally happens that 

 both whirls of roots are good, if they are not 

 more than four or five inches apart, let them 

 both remain; but if they are further apart 

 than that distance, let the lower one be pru- 

 ned away as directed. 



My reason for retaining the upper tier of 

 roots in preference to tho lower one is, that 

 the tree thrives better with them, and more 

 particularly so in trees of the stone fruit kind. 

 Also the necessity of pruning away the lower 

 whirl of roots when they are far apart is, 

 that if both were allowed to remain when 

 the tree was planted, the lower roots would 

 be too deep in the soil to derive much benefit 

 from the sun and air, and if planted in a 

 border that has a bad subsoil they would by 

 immediately striking into it prove injurious, 

 by causing the tree to canker or be otherwise 

 diseased. 



When a tree is supplied with a correspond- 

 ing quantity of roots when compared with 

 the top as before observed, do not cut them 

 away, as is the practice of many persons, 

 with a view to obtain new ones, for such will 

 be produced in abundance from the sides of 

 those with which the tree is at present sup- 

 plied, the act of taking up and replanting 

 the tree essentially contributes to promote 

 their increase. Besides the young fibres 

 being in an active state soon after planting, 



