24 CHOICE OP TREES. 



very much contribute to the speedy estab- 

 lishment of the tree, which should always 

 be promoted as early as possible. The only 

 exception I make to the above practice is, 

 when the fibres are very much withered and 

 injured from being out of the ground a long 

 time, or are otherwise damaged, in which 

 case pruning away such injured and dam- 

 aged parts is requisite. Also should the 

 fibres be more numerous than desired, cut 

 some of them clean away to their origin; for 

 if they be only shortened this will cause them 

 to send out more fibres than before. 



Any strong roots near to the trunk of the 

 tree, that have lain across before taking up, 

 must now or when planted, be placed in 

 their natural direction; if possible. If it be 

 found necessary to retain such roots for the 

 benefit of the tree, this must be done; but if 

 not, prune them in such a manner that they 

 will not be likely to grow in that distorted 

 position again; for if they were allowed to 

 continue in that direction, they would be ex- 

 ceedingly injurious to the trees, particularly 

 in trees of the stone fruit; for by it a proper 

 circulation of the sap is prevented, and they 

 are more liable to canker. When the fruit 

 tree is to be planted, in order to place it 

 properly against the wall, such roots as are 

 in a direction that prevents its being done, 

 must be pruned. If the tree has a sufficiency 

 of roots without them, let them be cut clean 



