20 



CHOICE OF TREES. 



and the formation of a root, or fibre, at the 

 extremity of the part left, is thereby prevent- 

 ed. It may sometimes arise too from the 

 circumstance that no eye has been left upon 

 such part from which to expect a root, for I 

 have frequently noticed in fruit trees that 

 have been planted out in the natural ground, 

 that lateral roots form themselves nearly as 

 close to each other, as the buds are upon the 

 shoots in the upper part of the tree. The 

 small fibrous roots do not require so much 

 exactness in pruning them to a lateral, as the 

 larger ones do, because they will more rea- 

 dily push new roots. But it is always 

 necessary in pruning any root whether large 

 or small, to finish by a clean smooth cut, 



A young tree likely to do well should have 

 roots nearly corresponding to the branches, 

 at least, it should have one strong root in a 

 similar proportion to the bole of the tree, 

 with a proper distribution of branching- 

 fibres. Healthy roots are always smooth 

 and clear, the colour of them varies a little 

 according to the sort of the tree, but the 

 older the roots are, the darker the natural 

 colour is. 



When a tree has such a number of small 

 roots as to form an entire tuft or mass of 

 fibres, it is an evident sign of constitutional 

 weakness, unless it has been planted in poor 

 soil, or being confined in a pot, or otherwise, 

 which will always be found to cause it to 



