Pruning. 245, 
flower-buds. In such cases, it is advisable to equalize the 
growth by a moderate cutting back of all the young shoots. 
This must be done, however, with judgment. If the cutting 
back is too severe, it will stimulate more wood growth 
rather than the development of fower-buds. 
(3) By root pruning. This checks 
growth by reducing the number of 
root-tips, and thus cuts off a part of 
the water supply. It is applicable to- 
the same cases as pinching, and is ac- 
complished by cutting off the ex- 
tremities of the roots by inserting 
the spade in a circle about the plant, 
or in the case of trees of considerable 
size, by digging a trench sufficiently 
deep to sever the lateral roots. The 
Regie severity of the root pruning advis- 
Fie. 163, Branches of fruit able will depend upon the vigor of 
tree tied together by a graft 
formed by twisted twigs. the growth it is desired to check. 
(4) By obstructing the growth current. This has already 
been considered (138). When ringing is practiced, the width 
of the belt of bark removed should usually not be so great 
that the wound cannot heal over the same season, and it 
must be made sufficiently early to give time for the healing. 
In the grape vine, in which ringing is often practiced to in- 
crease the size and earliness of the fruit, the width of the- 
belt removed is not important, since the canes that have 
borne fruit are generally removed in the annual pruning. 
But in fruit trees, the belt of bark removed should not 
much exceed one-eighth inch in width. Simply cutting 
through the bark with the pruning saw often accomplishes. 
the end. 
