REMARKS ON THE DWARFING OF FRUIT-TREES. 
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but the amount of application, aided by a mind of expansive character, that signalises 
efforts in this way. 
Whilst pointing to the benefits to be derived by carrying out such a course of culture, 
it ought not to be forgotten, that within the range of her Majesty’s dominions at home a 
variety of climate occurs. People about the great Metropolis, who do care about the 
thrice-told tales of cool climates farther north, may and do think that too much fuss is apt 
to be made about warm aspects, ripening the wood, protection and all those minutiae, 
which those who have gardened far north, or in localities of considerable altitude, have 
been compelled to pay regard to. So various, however, are the conditions in this respect, 
that it is next to impossible to lay down one set of rules for fruit-culture, even for Britain 
alone ; to say nothing of British possessions across the water ; for our neighbours, or 
dependencies in the colonies, have no doubt frequently profited by the sound advice which 
flows from the Horticultural press of Britain. 
Having stated thus much as a preliminary introduction to some general remarks I wish 
to offer, I will now proceed to point out a few of the main principles, which must at all 
times influence proceedings in this way, be the clime what it may, capable of modification 
nevertheless, such modification dependent in the main on the average amount of solar 
light, together with the average of atmospheric humidity. Herein lies the basis of the 
whole argument, according to my opinion ; for the question of heat appears to me as a 
secondary consideration. 
Depth of Soil . — Although all other requisites are duly carried out in establishing fruit- 
trees on a strict dwarfing system, if the soil is prepared too deep, it will have a continual 
tendency to mar all other efforts. 
Depth of root, when considerable, especially if the soil be of a generous character, is 
sure to produce a late root-action, and this is as sure to prove an impediment to the 
perfect ripening of the wood, which latter point might, in all probability, be urged as the 
proper groundwork of the whole affair. If any one doubt the importance of this principle, 
let him cast his eyes on the thorn family, and behold the vast difference in character 
between the pampered thorn- tree in some trenched plantation, and the short-jointed, 
stubby-looking tree on some elevated clayey knoll. Now I contend, the habits and mode 
of bearing of the thorn being as near as may be analogous to the bulk of our cultivated 
fruits — that the first described thorn is a fair counterpart of at least eighty per cent, of our 
kitchen-garden fruit-trees in Britain ; whilst the other case will equally prove an illus- 
tration of what a dwarfing system can accomplish. Everybody knows the immense 
fertility of the thorn situated on a knoll of poor soil, and equally so the comparative 
barrenness and profusion of young shoots which attend the other case. To be sure, high 
culture here is admirably adapted to produce a good hedge; we need scarcely urge, 
however, that the two objects in view are as opposite as the poles ; for what is so great a 
nuisance in a compact and neat little fruit-garden, as coarse-growing fruit-trees continually 
overpowering their more moderate neighbours, and threatening to monopolise the limited 
plot of ground to themselves ? The proprietor is continually tempted, maugre the fine 
high-sounding titles on the neat labels, to cut them down, but the old idea of “ try 
them another year ” comes many a time to their rescue ; and thus they continue a pest, 
the poor unfortunate proprietor continuing, with much assiduity, to prune away annually a 
profusion of coarse shoots, all produced to no other purpose than to exhaust soil, which 
might have been much better employed. 
It may hereby fairly be inquired, what is a shallow soil ; or rather, what that precise 
depth, if there be one, which suits the majority of our fruit-trees ? To answer this by 
offering a specific depth would indeed be an arbitrary mode of settling such matters. 
Soils, subsoils, and sites, differ so much, as to render this unnecessary. Moreover, like 
the celebrated drainage question amongst our agricultural neighbours, the question of 
depth, if argued to a nice point, might lead to much useless controversy, for which the 
public has neither time nor inclination. I may nevertheless be permitted to quote my 
own practice, which I may without egotism be permitted to say has been exceedingly 
successful, extending over a course of many years. Twenty inches, then, I consider the 
