S68 CHINESE PIGMY TREES. 



and by many others, and has never proved an objectionable 

 practice under judicious management. Its effect is, 'pro tanto, 

 to cut off the supply of food, and thus to arrest the rapid 

 growth of the branches ; and the connexion between this and 

 the production of fruit has akeady been explained. It is 

 in some measure by pushing the root-pruning to excess that 

 the Chinese obtain the curious dwarf trees which excite sot 

 much curiosity in Europe. Mr. Livingston's account of their 

 practice is so instructive, and contains so much that an 

 intelligent gardener may turn to account, that it is worth 

 repeating here. 



" When the dwarfing process is intended, the branch which 

 had pushed radicles into the surrounding composition in suffi' 

 cient abundance, and for a sufficient length of time, is separated 

 from the tree, and planted in a shallow earthenware flower-pot, 

 of an oblong square shape ; it is sometinies made to rest upon 

 a flat stone. The pot is then filled with small pieces of 

 alluvial clay, which, in the neighbourhood of Canton, is broken 

 into bits, of about the size of common beans, hieing just 

 sufficient to supply the scanty nourishment which the par- 

 ticular nature of the tree and the process require. In addition, 

 to a careful regulation of the quantity and quality of the earth, 

 the quantity of water, and the management of the plants with 

 respect to sun and shade, recourse is had to a great variety of 

 mechanical contrivances, to produce the desired shape. The 

 containing flower-pot is so narrow, that the roots pushing out 

 towards the sides are pretty effectually cramped. No radicle 

 can descend ; consequently it is only those which run towards 

 the sides or upwards that can serve to convey nourishment 

 properly, and it is easy to regulate those by cutting, burning, 

 &c., so as to cramp the growth at pleasure. Every succeeding 

 formation of leaves becomes more and more stunted, the buds 

 and radicles become diminished in the same proportion, tUl at 

 length that balance between the roots and leaves is obtained 

 which suits the character of the dwarf required. In some trees 

 this is accomplished in two or three years, but in others it 

 requires at least twenty years." {Hort, Trans., iv. 229.) 



•'The practice of root-pnining waa long ago recognised by Switzer, 



