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CHAPTER XVIII. 



The treatment of vigorous fruit trees. 



It frequently happens, that a young tree 

 will grow very vigorous for a few years after 

 being planted. When this is the case, as 

 great a portion of wood must be retained as 

 can be allowed, so that the influence of the 

 sun is not thereby excluded from operating 

 upon it; for if that was the case, the buds 

 would not be matured, consequently the tree 

 would be kept unfruitful, by which luxuriancy 

 would be encouraged. Besides the retaining 

 of a large portion of wood, the branches must 

 also be depressed, so as in some cases to train 

 them in a pendulous manner*. 



If after this practice has been attended to 

 for two years, the tree should continue to be 

 luxuriant and unfruitful, the soil should be 

 taken off the roots near to the bole of the 

 tree, and a strong root should be cut away. 

 In doing this, always cut close up to a lateral 

 root, so that no bare stump remains. See 

 pruning the roots of fruit trees previous to plant- 

 ing.) The root which is severed from the 



* Manure water must also be withheld. 



Q 



