THE CANADIAN IIOllTICULTUIilST. 87 



fruit grower will be careful to avoid setting liis trees in wet soil, or in 

 low, rich lands. He will also prudently abstain from the application 

 of stimulating manures, wliich would have a tendency to encourage 

 late growth in autumn ; he will abstain from all cultural operations on 

 the soil when growth should be checked rather than encouraged, and 

 use every available means to secure an early cessation of wood growth. 



" When a fundamental principle is once determined and fairly 

 understood, operative details based upon this knowledge are readily 

 deduced and applied. As an example, I may allude to the well known 

 fact that many of our beautiful evergreen tress from the northwestern 

 and California coasts, as also various Asiatic conifers, have a great 

 tendency to commence a second active growth during the moist, genial 

 weather, which frequently occurs here during the early fall months. 

 This growth never ripens, and in consequence is destroyed by the first 

 frost, greatly to the injury of the plant. The manmioth tree of 

 California and the Japan cedar may be cited as typical trees of this 

 class. These fall growths may be checked by pruning the roots of the 

 trees during September, which will insure matured wood ; the young 

 branches will become solid a!id firm, instead of being unripe and filled 

 with watery fluid, and are thus prepared to stand the winter. 



" Then, again, as to protection and the best means of preserving 

 plants from injury by freezing, we are guided by the knowledge of the 

 action of the frost on vegetation. Evaporation of the sap being the 

 result of exposure to currents of frosty air, our efforts at protection 

 will be in a direction to antagonize this result. Practicallv, taking 

 such plants as roses, grape vines and raspberries as examples, the 

 best method is to lay them on the surface of the ground and cover 

 them with an inch thickness of sand or soil, or indeed any material 

 that will protect them from direct contact with the air and the rays 

 of the sun. 



" With regard to the general subject of protecting the plants, some 

 persons contend that a fruit tree or plant to be valuable or fitted for 

 general culture must be able to take care of itself. This should be 

 looked upon as a lame excuse for indolence and neglect. It is the 

 province of man to assist nature in producing such results as he finds 

 most desirable for his purposes ; and if he removes plants from their 

 natural conditions and then abandons them, so to speak, ho must 

 expect to realize the usual consequences of neglect. 



