THE PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES 61 



carefully cut off with a sharp knife. Any of the 

 surface fibrous roots which have been bruised or 

 damaged should also be neatly cut, and before the tree 

 is put back again, the soil should be thoroughly dug 

 up and pulverised to a depth of at least two feet. 

 Nothing keeps the roots near the surface so well as 

 does a deep and well-cultivated soil. Nothing causes 

 roots to descend so much as does a dry, hard soil. 



