82 CAUSES OF FRTJITFULNESS. 



century, and which bear while yet very young, en- 

 tirely obviates the difficulty. 



2. Pruning the roots, is of recent invention, and 

 in some instances has proved eminently successful, 

 but has not as yet been sufficiently tested in this 

 country. 



3. Ringing the branches is effected by taking out 

 a narrow ring of bark, extending round the branch. 

 By obstructing the downward descent of the jui- 

 ces, and by their accumulation above the ring, it 

 not only causes fruitfulness, but frequently alters 

 the appearance and quality of the fruit. In some 

 cases, it has doubled the size ; in others it has 

 brightened the colors. In the Court Pendu apple, * 

 the colors are changed from green and dull red, to 

 brilliant yellow and scarlet. But Lindley says, " If 

 performed extensively upon a tree, it is apt, if not 

 to kill it, to render it incurably unhealthy ; for if 

 the rings are not sufficiently wide to cut off all 

 communication between the upper and lower lips 

 of the wound, they produce little effect, and if they 

 are they are difficult to heal. For these reasons, 

 the operation is but little employed."! 



* An English variety. 



f Many years ago I had a tree of the Mammoth Sweeting, 

 which had two principal branches. It comes into bearing 

 very tardily ; and I became very impatient to see the fruit. 

 I therefore drew my knife and cut through the bark trans- 

 versely, forcing open the bark by straining the knife side- 

 ways, as I drew it along an inch or so at a time; so that 

 when the ring round the branch was completed, it had a zig- 



