THE GARDENER, 



51 



strengthened.* Pruning the roots tends to diminish 

 excessive vigour in a tree, because it is by the roots 

 that buds and leaves are nourished ; and if these be 

 too luxuriant, as already stated, in substance, the dis- 

 position to forming fruit buds is lessened. 



Pruning is not however confined to trees and shrubs, 

 it is necessary for many herbaceous plants. " The 

 topping of beans and the picking off potatoe blossoms 

 are operations belonging to pruning ; so are the cut- 

 ting off of withered flowers for the sake of neatness 

 or to prevent the production of seed, and even the 

 mowing of grass lands. "f 



But I am only about to consider the pruning of our 

 ordinaiy fruit trees, adverting at the same time to 

 their natures, for unless these be explained, the best 



* " One of the specific principles of pruning is also the sti- 

 mulus given to vitality. "When the leading branch of a small 

 tree, which, perhaps, has not been growing well, but has got the 

 roots fully established, is cut back to one bud, not only is the 

 rush of sap, which should have supplied the whole buds, di- 

 verted into the one, and the shoot thus made more vigorous, but 

 the vitality of the tree has acquired an impetus that it did not for- 

 merly possess. From a lazy slow-growing plant, it has been 

 converted into one of a quick, healthy, vigorous growth ; a sti- 

 mulus is given to the roots also to increase, and the tree is en- 

 tirely renovated. The benefit is lasting, not temporary, and will 

 continue if circumstances are favourable, and no check of bad soil 

 or bad weather ensues to counteract its vigour. It is thus that 

 the forester cuts back his oak plants in the forest, after being a 

 few years planted, and trains a single shoot from the bottom, 

 knowing well that the vigour of this one shoot will be lasting ; 

 that the impetus given to the growth of the tree will continue ; 

 and that in a few years the cut over tree will be many times 

 larger than those allowed to stand uncut. It is thus that nur- 

 serymen increase the vigour of their young plants by pruning ; 

 and that gardeners, when pruning for wood, cut farther back 

 than when pruning for fruit." — Suburban Horticulturist f Ap« 

 pendix. 



t Ibidem. 



