LUTHER BURBANK 



Of course we cannot get at the branches of the 

 roots to renovate them as we have renovated the 

 aerial branches, nor would they require the same 

 kind of attention if we could. 



There is no danger that a plant will have too 

 many rootlets, for these are the mouths that reach 

 out into the nutrient earth and take up the chem- 

 icals in solution that are part of the materials for 

 the building of branch and leaf and flower and 

 fruit alike. But there is danger that the root sys- 

 tem may not develop in the best manner, and there 

 is obvious need that the soil into which the roots 

 penetrate should not be depleted of its nourishing 

 properties. 



As to the manner of development of the root 

 system, of course it is too late to make radical 

 changes if we are dealing with an old tree. With 

 young trees just starting growth or recently trans- 

 planted much may be done, as will be pointed out 

 presently. But with the old tree all that can be 

 accomplished is to see that the root already in is 

 being given a fair chance. 



Attention to the Commissary Department 



To this end the ground about the tree should 

 be cultivated with plow or spade, even at the 

 hazard of destroying a certain number of super- 

 ficial rootlets. The grass and weeds that have 

 been permitted to spring up in the neglected or- 



[46] 



