1852.1 THE PHILADELPHIA FLORIST. 147 



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Lon between the roots and leaves — the one depending, 1o a greai ex- £*) 

 /o tent, upon the other for support — hence it might plausibly be suppos- 

 y ed that the removal of branches during growth would be one of the 

 most effectual means of enfeebling the plant; and no doubt it is, if car- 

 ried to excess — but enfeebled growth is not indicative of fruitfulness. 

 In ordinary pruning, however, it does not even check luxuriance. — 

 Any person may prove this by cutting the head of a young growing 

 tree in summer; the plant will appear stationary for a time, but the 

 roots being in a powerfully absorbing condition, a reaction will cer- 

 tainly follow, and several branches will shoot up, each as strong as the 

 one cut off. So long as the roots are allowed to extend and multiply, 

 no branch pruning compatible with healthiness will induce a fruitful 

 habit. Hence we resort to root pruning ; and by thus getting at the 

 root of the matter, our efforts are seconded by success. If, therefore,, 

 you have a plum, pear or other fruit tree which has attained a fruit- 

 bearing size, but shows no indication of a fruit-bearing disposition, 

 open a circular trench eighteen inches or two feet from its stem, and 

 dig down the same depth, cut back all roots you meet, then introduce 

 a spade underneath the ball of earth so that.no perpendicular roots 

 may be left, fill in the soil as before the tree is "root pruned," and 

 henceforth the ''balance of power" will be changed. We may have 

 something more to say in relation to this subject hereafter. 



Gathering Fruit. — There is in general too little attention paid to 

 this matter ; pears, especially, should be attentively watched, as many, 

 indeed most varieties, are improved in flavor by being picked before 

 fully ripe. Some of the finest sorts have had hard names bestowed 

 upon them for their insipidity, solely for want of proper management 

 in this respect. They should be gathered as soon as they will part 

 easily from the tree without using force. Our criterion is to cut a fruit 

 in two on the first indication of maturity, and if the seeds are of a 

 brown color, the crop is gathered, handled as carefully as egs_ T s, and 

 laid on shelves in a cool, dark apartment, where they gradually ripen 

 to perfection. 



Grapes under Glass. — The principal object with these now, is the 

 ripening of the wood ; the roots, if planted inside, will require no fur- 

 ther artificial waterings ; if the border extend outside, they should be 

 covered in a manner to throw off excessive rains. Jn bright weather 

 syringe the foliage occasionally, which will keep down insects, and 

 otherwise prove refreshing. S. B. 



HINTS FOR SEPTEMBER. 

 Hot House. — Orchidaceous plants are becoming daily more com- 

 mon as the easiness of their cultivation becomes understood. Bfotias 

 (Pbajus) are in many collections. B. hyacinthiflora, B. Tankervillse, 

 and B. Wallichii, are about to grow now. They ought to be at once 

 repotted, and abundance of water given ; they will flower beautifully 

 in the winter. Ail orchidese, grown in pots, should be repotted after 

 they begin to grow ; they should be shaken out of the pots they grew 

 in, the old decayed roots (which are generally annual) cut off, and 

 placed in the same or little larger pots; turfy peat, with a third of 

 broken pots and charcoal, or old wood, suits most kinds, especially the 

 species of Bletia, Maxillaria, Lycaste and Calanthe. Leaves of'Glox- 

 i inias of any desirable kinds may now be struck in sand ; choose those 

 '^ which are tolerably mature, but not by any means turning color. — C» 



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