86 THE MINIATURE ERUIT QARDEN 



ing shoots untouched till the middle or end of August, 

 when they must be shortened, and the pruning for 

 the year is finished. 



The Morello and Duke cherries — the most eligible 

 for this bush culture — may have their leading shoots 

 shortened to eight leaves. If, however, the space be 

 confined in which they are planted, this length may 

 be reduced, for by biennial root-pruning the trees may 

 be kept exceedingly dwarf. The end is to form the 

 tree into a round bush, not too much crowded with 

 shoots. Towards the end of September, 1 or, in fact, 

 as soon as the autumnal rains have sufficiently pene- 

 trated the soil, a trench may be dug round the tree, 

 exactly the same as recommended for root-pruning of 

 pears, the spade introduced under the tree to cut all 

 perpendicular roots, and all the spreading roots short- 

 ened with the knife, and brought near to the surface, 

 previously filling in the trench with some light friable 

 soil for them to rest on, and spreading them regularly 

 round the tree, as near to the surface as possible ; then 

 covering them with the soil that was taken out of the 

 trench. ~No dung or manure of any kind is required, 

 as this stock seems to flourish in the poorest soils. 

 Some short litter, or half-decayed leaves will, how- 

 ever, be of much benefit placed on the surface round 

 the stem. 



I have thus far given their culture for small gar- 

 dens ; but those who have more space may dispense 

 with root-pruning, and allow their cherry trees to 

 make large bushes, which may be planted eight feet 



1 This early autumnal root-pruning will be found yery advantageous. The 

 flow of sap is checked, so that the shoots are well ripened, and the pruned roots 

 soon emit fresh fibres to feed the tree the following season. 



