156 
THE PHILOSOPHY AND USES OF BOTTOM-HEAT. 
arising from one or two motlier branches conducted horizontally almost close to the 
surface of the ground — all the rods ought to be trained a yard apart from each 
other at the final regulation of November, not one subsidiary shoot being suffered 
to remain, unless the annual renewal of all the bearing branches be contemplated 
in lieu of continuing the spurred rods. 
These yard spaces will furnish scope to the fruit-bearing laterals, which ought 
to be secured and laid in at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the perpen- 
dicular rods. Herein it is that we agree with the writer of the propositions, and 
would abstain from removing a single leaf from the fruit branches till the crossing 
shoots advance nearly close to the uprights, when it will be needful to pinch or 
stop them at the top joint. 
But as a crowded tree would utterly prevent the due exposure of all the leaves 
of the fertile shoots to the rays, it will be essential to break away every new or 
supernumerary development from the horizontal limbs — and such are apt to 
appear in rapid succession. While, then, we would nourish and tend with great 
caution every employed leaf, we must avoid intrusive new members. The tree so 
managed will cover an entire wall with verdure, though it be twenty feet high. 
As to the laterals, they should be stopped ere they intermingle and hide the light 
from more important leaves, or when they appear to check the swelling of the 
clusters ; and here we would put the question to the real practical Vine-grower — 
whether he have not frequently observed a leading shoot, destined to lengthen a 
rod, to outrun a cluster which has been left upon it, so as to arrest its enlarge- 
ment, if not altogether to deprive it of nourishment ? 
As to spur-bearing fruit-trees, no pruning is admissible till late in July, and 
then those subsidiary shoots which project from spurred branches must be cut back 
so as to cause the lowest buds to enlarge. 
Flowering and evergreen shrubs are cultivated for ornament ; therefore, as 
figure is a main object, the knife must be employed to confer it. We know that 
prunings are inimical to health and vigour, but these are sacrificed for efl^ect ; 
philosophy teaches facts, but fashion requires compliances, and therefore it is 
entirely futile to insist upon the rigid observance of natural laws. 
THE PHILOSOPHY AND USES OF BOTTOM-HEAT. 
Roots are to plants something like what the stomach is to all kinds of animals, 
for, where the functions of this are diseased, or fail to act efficiently, the whole 
system is speedily rendered unhealthy. And it may be laid down as an axiom of 
unvarying application in the culture of exotics, that where there is an abundance of 
healthy roots, any specimen that is otherwise properly treated will be in a flourish- 
ing state ; while the converse of this will always lead to the opposite results. 
