12 THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



EOOT-PEUNING OF PYEAMIDAL PEAR TEEE8 ON QCDfOE 

 STOCKS. 



Before entering on the subject of root-pruning of 

 pear trees on quince stocks, I must premif^e that 

 handsome and fertile pyramids, more particularly of 

 some free-bearing variuties, may be reared without 

 this annual or biennial operation. If the annual 

 shoots of the tree are not more than eight or ten 

 inches long, no root-pruning need be done. I have 

 a large plantation of pear trees on the quince stock, 

 which have been made very handsome and fertile 

 pyramids, yet they have not been root-pruned, neither 

 do I intend to root-prune them. But I wish to im- 

 press upon my readers that my principal object is to 

 make trees fit for small gardens, and to instruct those 

 who are not blessed with a large garden, how to keep 

 tlie trees jierfectly under control : and this can best 

 be done by annual, or at least biennial attention to 

 their roots ; for if a tree be suffered to grow three or 

 more jcai-s, and then be root-pruned, it will re- 

 ceive a check if the spring be dry, and the crop of 

 fruit for one season wiU be jeopardized. Therefore, 

 those who are disinclined to the annual operation, 

 and yet wish to confine the growth of their trees 

 within limited bounds l\v rodt-priiuini.' — say once in 

 two yeais— should only oi>erate upoTi half of tlieir 

 trees one season ;' tliev will thus have tlie remain- 



• In ThtJi'Urnal of Ihrticiilture fur tSfrJ, pago SSI, Mr Ij-,\ of CleT»d0H, 

 pivi-H nn ftcciuint of ht« rout-prunlnp i>rneltoi\ which \w corrlos t>iit eitonstvolj an 

 Bomo btindn'tltt of trci'rt. Jt niipi'iirs tit bo nn nltcrnato *\ Htciii i>f rtxvt-ppwninjr, *nd 

 rooy be <h>nt' nn followB:— Opt-ti n Ai>mlolronlnr tr\»noh on ono pUlo of tho tro«. »»it 

 pniim all Ihi' routH tbiU citii bo got at; the following t««-itaoD o[M>a a Uvncb of tho 



