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phere, cannot then ascend into the branches, it may be that a 
bleeding (as it is called) of the roots would take place, when 
wounded in winter, just as it occurs in the branches of vines when 
they are severely cut back in spring ; and thus the blossoms, 
notwithstanding the exuberance of the branches, may be de- 
prived of a requisite (nutritive stimulus when active vegetation 
commences. The produce of blossoms is chiefly dependent on 
the concentrated juices of autumn and winter, and it would 
therefore seem desirable not to aim at depletion of these juices 
by autumn root pruning, but to enforce on the tree a rigid 
abstinence during summer, which will be effected by spring 
root pruning. 
It must be remembered that blossom-buds and leaf-buds, in 
their incipient state, are identical in their organization ; and 
that those buds which under favourable circumstances afford 
blossoms, would, if too much luxuriance be present in the tree, 
be driven, as it were, into the produce of leaves and branches 
only. Hence it becomes the study of the horticulturist to assist 
the tree in feeding its blossom-buds to a certain degree, so as 
to secure their healthy expansion ; but to restrict it from 
conveying into them such an excess of nutriment as may divert 
them from their original purpose to that of the tree’s enlarge- 
ment. It will now be seen that the horticulturist has his trees 
completely under control ; if they are impoverished, he can feed 
them ; if too luxuriant, and thereby unproductive, he can, by 
reducing their roots, check that luxuriance to any extent he 
chooses. 
We will now give the substance of a paper read before the 
London Horticultural Society, in April, 1841, by 3Ir. Thomas 
Rivers, jun. His experience is chiefly founded on the manage- 
ment of trees which were under his care, from the time of their 
being first planted ; this, however, is unimportant, as every 
intelligent gardener will readily understand how best to avail 
himself of the advantages of root pruning, when its principles 
are so clearly developed. He says — 
“ Supposing a tree to be planted in November or December, it 
may remain untouched two years from that period, and then, 
early in November, if possible, a circumferential trench ten 
inches from the stem of the tree, and eighteen inches deep, 
should be dug, and every root cut with a sharp spade, which 
