'l62 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



considerable allotted space, and that are in what may 

 be termed good bearing condition, should not be taxed 

 so heavily. If iine fruit are required, one to every 

 10 or 12 square inches is sufficient. Of course their 

 •distribution may be unequal, and it is desirable that 

 on the lower branches — stretching more at a right 

 angle with the stem — the fruit should not be so thick 

 as on the central parts of the trees, which have a 

 tendency to become over vigorous at the expense of 

 the lower ones. 



EOOT-PEUNING. 



I am averse to root-pruning the peach and nectarine, 

 or any stone fruits, according to the fashion recom- 

 mended by some, and have never found it necessary 

 to cut away many of their roots after they were first 

 planted. I have never found much difficulty in sub- 

 duing any tendency that young trees have had to 

 grow too grossly by pinching the shoots when grow- 

 ing, and directing the energies of the tree to its other 

 parts. I think the practice of continually cutting 

 hard back and' preventing the trees from making a 

 more natural headway has much to do with gross 

 shoots. Letting the young trees bear heavily, in con- 

 junction with the training indicated above, is generally 

 sufficient when the trees are planted in a loamy soil 

 into which rank manures have not been introduced. 

 However, cases do occur when the roots of some of 

 the stronger-growing varieties have to be dealt with. 

 Then I would recommend a trench to be taken out 

 at a radius beyond where the roots have extended. 

 Encroach carefully on the roots, removing all the soil 

 — but saving every possible rootlet— close up to the 



