292 



Root-pruning Fruit Trees. 



[JULY, 



made firm, and mulched with four to six inches of strawy 

 stable manure as a protection against frost. 



Root-pruning without Lifting. — Trees established longer 

 than three or four years, and producing too much wood, 

 have roots too coarse to admit of being lifted without causing 

 an unduly severe' check, and one from which it would take 

 them two or three years to recover. In the case of these 

 larger trees, no more than one-half of the root system should 

 be interfered with in any one season. It is quite essential 

 to leave sufficient roots properly established to carry on 

 nutrition. 



The best procedure to follow in the case of trees too long 

 established to admit of lifting, is to mark out a semicircle, well ■ 

 beyond the spread of the branches, and on that side of it oppo- 

 site to the prevailing wind of the district, usually on the N.E. 

 or E. side. A trench about 2 feet deep should then be opened 

 at the mark, and the whole of the soil within the area made 

 by it removed. As the work is going on all the fibrous roots 

 must be carefully preserved, even those having a downward 

 tendency; they should be tied together in bundles and sus- 

 pended from the branches above, to keep them from accidental 

 injury through the careless use of tools. All coarse ones 

 must be removed entirely, the operator working gradually 

 and carefully inward until the base of the tree is freed, so 

 that it may be tilted back for examination and the tap roots 

 that will most probably be found there cut away. The 

 exposed roots must be examined and all damaged ends made 

 smooth with a keen knife, starting to cut from the upper 

 surface and sloping towards the lower. 



The soil should then be replaced and made compact to 

 within a few inches of the surface, the tree held in its place 

 with its roots well spread and covered with some fine material, 

 all being made firm, and mulched as in the case of re- 

 planting. Any trees of five feet or over in height should be 

 so stayed that they may not be blown about and loosened, 

 or re-establishment will not take place readily. 



Except in bad cases, this half-root pruning will have the 

 desired effect, but sometimes it will be necessary to treat the 

 remaining half the following year. By that time roots that 

 have already been pruned will have developed a good quan- 



