I'ROCKKDINOS Oh' THK 



plett'ly to intcnrpt ovory pi'r])iMuliiular root. Tlio troddlc spado 

 ustti in lIiTttordsliirr is a very eligible implonu nt for this pur- 

 pose, as the edi^e is steeknl and very sharp. The following year, 

 the thiril from planting:;, u trench nuiy apiin he opened at four- 

 teen iiulies from tlie stem, so as not lo injure the fibrous roots 

 of the preeediiii; summer's growth, and tlie si)a(le again used 

 to cut all the t ireumferential and |)erpendi( ular roots that are 

 getting out of bounds; the fourth year the same operation may 

 be repeated at eigliteen inches from the stem ; and in all subse- 

 (pient root pruning tliis distiniee from tlie stem must be ob- 

 served. In the course of years a perfect ball of fibrous roots 

 will be tornu'd, which will only recpiire the occasional operation 

 of n trench being dug and the ball being pared down, to ascer- 

 tain whether large feeders are making their escape from it. But 

 as this circular mass of soil will in a few years be exhausted, 

 there is left round each tree a slight depression in the soil, or 

 in other words, the trencli is not (juite filled in, and this circular 

 furrow is filled with fresh night soil, which has an excellent 

 effect. As it did not come in contact with the roots, no injury 

 resulted from the use of such a powerful manure ; but the 

 Author was of opinion that there is no absolute necessity for 

 licpiid manure, as common dung may be laid round each tree in 

 the autumn, and suffered to be washed in by the rains of winter, 

 or drawn in by the worms. With regard to pruning the branches 

 of pear trees thus brought into early fruitfulness, the author 

 added, that all that is necessary is the occasional removal of a 

 crowded branch, the fact being that root-pruning almost does 

 away with the necessity of branch-pruning. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, a root will escape the spade, and then in the following 

 summer a vigorous shoot or two will make their appearance ; 

 these should be shortened in August to within four buds of their 

 base, and the following autumn the feeding root must be dili- 

 gently searched for. Mr. Rivers exhibited a specimen (fig. C.) 

 of shoots of this kind, the result of a root being left unpruned. 



In conclusion he stated that he had also practised root-prun- 

 mg on apple trees for two years, and has reason to hope for per- 

 fect success as also as with plums and cherries. 



The following were the principal subjects of exhibition 5 



From Mr. George Steell, of Richmond, Surrey, a collection of 

 Camellias. 



From Mr. John Lumsden, Gardener to Henry Bevan, Esq., 

 F.H.S., a plant of Saxifraga ciliata. 



From Mrs. Lawrence, F.H.S., a collection of Stove and Green- 

 house plants, the most conspicuous of which were Cymbidium 

 aloifolium, Eriostemon huxifolium, Epacris onosmce/lora and Jrdisia 

 paniculata. (Silver Knigiitian Medal awarded). 



