94 Principles of Plant Culture. 



If the soil is properly drained, the natural depletion 

 of soil water about midsununer will usually give the 

 needed check to growth. In wet seasons, the drying of 

 the soil may be promoted by stopping cultivation before 

 midsummer and sowing a crop that will increase evap- 

 oration from the soil, as oats, clover or buckwheat 

 (200). . 



136, Pinching Promotes Flowering (416). In cer- 

 tain cases, as with seedling trees of which we would 

 early know the quality of the fruit, we may give an ab- 

 normal check to growth by pinching the tips of the 

 young shoots or by root pruning (416 k). These opera- 

 tions should be performed early in summer, before the 

 period of flower-bud formation, and if the tree is not 

 too young, flowers and fruit may be expected the fol- 

 lowing season. Frequent transplanting of young trees 

 acts like root pruning, especially if the tap-root is sev- 

 ered. Such harsh measures, however, while they pro- 

 mote early fruiting, doubtless tend to shorten the life 

 of trees. 



137. Ringing (415 g) often Causes the Formation of 

 Flower-Buds in otherwise barren trees, by obstructing 

 the rootward current of prepared food. Twisting a 

 small wire about the branch, violently twisting the 

 branch itself, or simple bending and fastening it in an 

 unnatural position, answers the same purpose. But 

 these devices probably weaken the tree and shorten its 

 life by robbing the roots of their normal food supply 

 and are excusable only in special cases, as with seedling 

 trees. It is generally a reproach to the care or knowl- 



