PRUNiNG FRUIT TRE^S, 
^7? 
for the form of tree which they desire to produce, and when they 
have also learned that most garden soil is amply rich enough to 
ensure healthy growth, and that manure (except as a mulch) is 
better withheld until the tree commences to bear fruit, then, I 
think, the days of root pruning will be numbered. Meantime I 
look upon it more in the light of a surgical operation to be under- 
taken advisedly than as one of the routine operations of the fruit 
garden. When it has to be undertaken care should be exercised, 
or the cure is apt to be as bad as the disease. In the case of 
young trees there is, of course, no difficulty in the matter ; but 
with old trees, when the roots have extended to a considerable 
distance, there is a great danger of killing the tree. The 
modus operandi of root pruning is this : As early as possible in 
the season, as soon as the leaves turn yellow, and before they 
fall off, get out a trench round the tree to be operated upon ; cut 
back the strong roots (with an upward cut of the knife), and 
drive a spade under the ball of soil in which the tree stands, so 
as to sever any taproots which may be working down into the 
subsoil ; fill up the trench again as quickly as possible with some 
good loam and old manure from a spent hotbed, and the 
shortened roots will make plenty of young fibres before the 
advent of winter. The distance at which the trench should be 
got out will vary with the age and size of the tree. There is an 
old saying that the spread of the roots equals the spread of the 
branches ; but however true this may be in the case of naturally 
grown and unpruned trees, it does not apply to closely pruned 
pyramids, the roots of which will be found to spread wider than 
the branches. When really old trees have to be dealt with, it is 
best to prune only half-way round the tree one season, and to 
complete the circle next year. 
Discussion. 
Mr. Arnold said he had paid a deal of attention to the paper, 
particularly with regard to the pruning of cordons. He found 
from practical experience that it answered well to go round the 
trees, say in June. Instead of cutting away the lateral growths, 
he broke them and left them hanging, and he found that when 
they wanted to cut back finally to the third bud, it answered to 
break the branch at the fourth bud, as they would find that the 
