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is suspected of entering the, sub-soil it should be searched for by 

 careful undermining, and severed. In the North of Ceylon, where 

 the climate is comparatively dry, the practice in regard to the 

 Grape-vine is to remove the soil from around the base of the stem, 

 and cut away some of the smaller roots. After exposure for a 

 week or two the trench is filled in with manure, which is covered 

 over with the soil previously removed. Similar treatment is 

 applied in India to the Mango and other fruit-trees. "This," said 

 FIRMIXGER, "though apparently opposed to theory, is in fact more 

 efficacious in practice, and the trees treated thus bear prodigiously." 



In the cultivation of fruit generally, the 

 object should be to encourage the 

 growth of fibrous roots near the surface, 

 and prevent the development of strong 

 woody roots into the sub-soil. 



Cavities in Tree-trunks. V e r y 

 often when a tree has been long 

 neglected, the trunk is seriously injured 

 by cavities caused by the decay of dead 

 or broken branches. It is not claimed 

 that pruning can remove defects of this 

 nature ; but it can, with proper appli- 

 cation, arrest the progress of the evil. 

 The edge of the cavity should be cut 

 smooth and even, and all decomposed 

 matter in the interior carefully removed. 

 A coating of coal-tar should then be 

 applied to the surface of the cavity, 

 and the mouth plugged with a piece of 

 well-seasoned hard wood, securely 

 driven into place, the end of the plug 

 being then carefully pared smooth and 

 covered with coal-tar. To guard 



against the attacks of insects or fungi, it is sometimes advisable to 

 nail a piece of zinc over the board, in such a way that the growth of 

 the new wood may in time completely cover it. 



Bark-, or Hide-bound trees. It is believed that in some 

 -cases cortical or bark pressure becomes so great as to retard the 

 growth of the tree, preventing the formation of the normal amount 

 of new wood. In temperate climates this unhealthy condition is 

 considered to be indicated by the natural shedding of the leaves 



BRAXCH-PRUXER. 



