213 
should be introduced quite under the stem at about fifteen 
inches in depth, so as completely to intercept every perpendi- 
cular root. The following year, the third from planting, a 
trench may again be opened, at fourteen inches from the stem, 
so as not to injure the fibrous roots of the preceding summer’s 
growth, and the spade again used to cut off all the circumfer- 
ential and perpendicular roots, that are getting out of bounds; 
the fourth year the same operation may be repeated, at 
eighteen inches from the stem, and in all subsequent root- 
pruning this distance from the stem must be kept ; this will 
leave enough undisturbed earth round each tree to sustain as 
much fruit as ought to grow, for the object is to obtain a small 
prolific tree. I assume, that in the course of years a perfect 
ball of fibrous roots will be formed, which will only require 
occasional examination. But it must be borne in mind that 
this circular mass of soil will, in a few years, be exhausted; to 
remedy which I had left round each tree a slight depression in 
the soil, or in other words, the trench has not been quite filled 
in; this circular furrow I have filled with fresh night soil, which 
has had a most excellent effect; any other liquid manure would 
undoubtedly be equally efficacious, but my soil was poor, and 
1 thought it required strong manure. As it did not come in 
contact with the roots, no injury resulted from using such a 
powerful raw manure. There is, perhaps, no absolute necessity 
for liquid manuring, as common stable manure may be laid 
round each tree in the autumn, and suffered to be washed in by 
the rains of winter, and drawn in by the worms. In mention- 
ing liquid manure, I give the result of my own practice ; the 
great end to attain seems (to use an agricultural phrase) to be 
able “to feed at home ;” that is, to give the mass of spongioles 
enough nutriment in a small space, but not too much, so that a 
tree will make shoots about four inches long in one season, (for 
such I conceive ought to be the maximum of growth) and at 
the same time be able to produce abundance of blossom-buds 
and fruit; on trees of many varieties of pears the former will 
be in too great abundance ; I think removing a portion in early 
spring, would be an improvement in pear culture. I have not 
mentioned the necessity of pruning the branches of pear trees 
thus brought into early fruitfulness; all that is necessary is the 
occasional removal of a crowded branch ; the fact being that 
207, ACCTABIVM. 
