13 



THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



cutting out cleanly with a sharp knife, in winter 

 pruning those that are crowding each other. The 

 biennial removal described below is also necessary, 

 unless in very large gardens where large spreading 

 trees are wished for. Although the taking up and 

 replanting a tree may seem formidable work, it is not 

 so, for the roots, from being frequently removed, 

 become so fibrous near the surface, that an active man 

 can lift and replant one hundred trees in a clay. I 

 need scarcely add that if root-pruning, as described 

 in page 14, be preferred to removal, it may be prac- 

 ticed. 



These bushes are admirably adapted for gardens 

 exposed to winds, and if removed biennially they may 

 be grown in the smallest of gardens with great ad- 

 vantage. This biennial removal, or lifting, should be 

 performed as follows : — A trench should be opened 

 round the tree the width of a spade, and from twelve 

 to fifteen inches deep ; the tree should then be raised 

 with its ball of earth attached to its root intact. If 

 the soil be light and rich, and the tree inclined to grow 

 vigorously, making annual shoots of more than one 

 foot in length, it may be replanted without any fresh 

 compost ; but' if, on the contrary, the soil be poor, 

 and the tree stunted in its growth, the following 

 materials may be used : — In low situations near 

 brooks and rivers, a black moor earth is generally 

 found : this unprepared is unfit for horticultural pur- 

 poses, but if dug out and laid in a ridge, and one- 

 eighth part of unslackecl lime be spread over it, turn- 

 ing it immediately and mixing the lime with it, it will 

 become in the course of five or six weeks an excellent 



