THE HAEDY FRUIT GAEDEN. 



321 



root-pnming, not only of young trees, but of others 

 when neeessury. Two tell-tales on the trees them- 

 selves indicate, with unerring certainty, alike the time 

 and extent to which it should "be carried. These are 

 the vigour of the wood, and partial or complete 

 sterility, A skilful use of the knife on the roots is 

 an infallible cure for both. 



To prevent the necessity of multiplying illustra- 

 tions, it may be stated that by root-pruning the 

 Crab (Fig. 2) it may be forced into a fibrous condi- 

 tion of root closely resembling Fig. 3. Not that the 



F'.g. 4.— Apple Stock not pruned. 



roots will be transformed from the gross fangy 

 condition into a network of fibres all at once ; but 

 through a series of careful surgical operations on the 

 larger fangs, or by detailed manipulations on the 

 sub-fangs, a fibrous condition may be forced, and 

 to a very considerable extent perpetuated. All this, 

 too, may be aided by culture as well as by priming : 

 just as patients who have to submit to amputa- 

 tions are carefully dieted with nourishing yet 

 suitable food, so roots may be nourished through 

 their pruning crises, and modified in form by special 

 culture or food. One of the most potent applica- 

 tions after root-forming is a slight dressing of sweet 

 and well-rotted leaf -mould. Unfortunately the 

 general and careless use of this root-resuscitating, 

 root-developing compost led to its being used too 

 fresh, rank, or sour, the consequence in many cases 

 being the formation of most destructive root-fungus 

 among fruit-trees ; but, if of good quality and suffi- 

 ciently decomposed, there is no compost so favourable 

 45 



for the hc;iling of wounds on old roots and the 

 development of whole hosts of new fibrous ones as 

 sweet fine leaf-mould. However, as this is seldom 

 within reach of amateurs and mechanics, any sweet 

 fine soil or nourishing compost will do as a helpful 

 stimulus to pruned roots. The roots will recover 

 and assume a fibrous character without such aids ; 

 but these hasten the processes, and hence should be 

 used when procurable. 



Figs. 4 and 5 will illustrate and render more clear 

 the theory and practice and effects of root-pruning. 



Fig. 5.— Same Stock root-prui.ed. 



In Fig. 4 the young Apple-tree has not been pruned 

 at all, and both roots and tops are distinguished by 

 vigour and verticality, to coin an expressive word, 

 Were timber and stability our aim, this is the foi'm 

 of tree to be desired. In Fig. 5 the roots and the 

 branches are nearly alike numerous, and both incline 

 to horizontal rather than vertical grov,'th. This form., 

 as already remarked, tends to promote fertility, and 

 to develop that tendency to the uttermost. It is need- 

 ful, however, to bear in mind that the root-pruning of 

 Apple and other trees weakens or destroys the hold- 

 fast character of the roots. This function of the 

 roots is of far more moment in orchards or other ex- 

 posed places, than within the shelter of the fruit 

 garden. Small trees also need it less than larger 

 ones, while horizontal Cordon, Espalier, or wall 

 trees, neither need nor call into action the holdfast 

 character of roots. Taller trees, however, such as 

 Pyramids, and large bushes on fibrous-rooted stocks, 

 or severely root-pruned ones, must be kept firm with 



