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TIIE ROOT-P EUNING OF WALL-FKUIT TEEES. 6; 
THE ROOT-PRUNING OF WALL -FRUIT TREES. 
Ijy Mk. GEORGE SMITJI, Brooklahds' Nursery, Blackiieath. 
WFHILE much has been written in various gardening periodicals, about root-pruning pyramidal 
iili pear-trees, its undoubted advantages, when api^lied to trained fruit-trees generally, have passed 
comparatively unnoticed. That there are not many gardeners who have tested the advantage of root- 
pruning wall-fruit trees, I would by no means assert ; but I am stronglj' of opinion that, notwith- 
standing the sanguine exliortations of Rivers, Fleming, Errington, and other writers, the subject 
has not met with the general consideration of gardeners ; for nothing is more common to be met with 
in the generality of gardens, than weU-trained, healthy, and vigorous wall-trees, with scarcely a fruit- 
bud to be found upon them — exeeptmg, of com-se, Peaches and Nectarines. And what other result can 
be expected ? While every vestige of a shoot is lopped off twice or thrice dining Summer, the roots 
are allowed full scope to extend themselves in a rich border, absorbing a profusion of crude sap, which 
gluts the branches, and bursts forth in the shape of excessively vigorous, and consequently, barren 
shoots. This mode of treatment, however, is continued year after year, mitil a mass of imsightly 
spm-s are produced, when the trees are either cut back and regrafted, or they are grubbed up, to 
give place to a new set ; and these, in a year or two after regrafting or planting, exhibit the 
same symptoms of excessive vigour and barrenness. 
Very different is the case of the fruit-trees that are found growing in their natm'al forms in the 
market gardens skii-ting the suburbs of the metropolis, which afford a strildng contrast to those trees 
which have had all the skill and care of the scientific pruner and trainer. "While the former are 
literally studded with a mass of blossom-buds, the latter exhibit an aspect, the result of which proves 
far more pleasing to the eye than it does afterwards to the palate. In the former case, a balance is kept 
up between the branches and the roots ; the roots have just sufficient power to absorb nutriment for 
the branches and leaves to elaborate for the formation of fruit-buds ; while, in the latter case, every 
encom'agement is given to them ; they extend themselves in every direction, year after year, while the 
branches are limited to a given space. The trees, consequently, are kept in an unbalanced condition, 
and barrenness is the result. I am particularly desirous of drawing the attention of practical gar- 
deners to the indispensable necessity for root-pruning all sorts of hardy fruit-trees which they find in a 
state of barrenness, for the pui'pose of bringing them into a fruitful condition, as I am convinced there 
are many enthusiastic cultivators of choice hardy fruits, who expend considerable smns in proom-ing a 
valuable collection of the best kinds, and in preparing soil of the best possible descrij)tion ; who, Ulve- 
wise, employ much time, and all thcii- ingenuity, in training them in the most symmetrical forms, some 
upon the pyramidal principle, others upon walls, and as espalHers ; who gaze, delighted, upon their- 
luxuriant foliage, and vigorous branches, vainly hoping for a lucrative retiu'n for time and capital 
expended, but who are, nevertheless, adopting a system of treatment which is the dii'ect cause of 
failure. 
Now, if, instead of rigorously pruning the branches of yoimg fruit-trees, they were allowed to attain 
the size desii'ed, stopping, of com-se, their leaders, in order to produce the necessary quantity of side 
branches, and then were lifted entirely out of the ground and root-pruned, as theii' condition may seem 
to dictate, a profusion of blossoms would be produced with as much certainty as in dealing with a com- 
mon Geranium. I am by no means an advocate for annual root-pruning fruit-trees, without regard 
to their condition ; but, wherever barrenness, associated with healthy and vigorous branches, occur 
lifting and root-pruning may be safely resorted to, even with the largest trees, provided attention be 
given to mulching, and keeping the soil moist about their roots during the following summer. 
The best plan, perhaps, would be, to make a point of lifting, or otherwise root-pruning a portion 
of the stock aunuallj', as in severe cases of operation the trees may be tkrown out of fruit-bearing for a 
season. As to the mode of operation, I may remark, that the cii-cumstances of the ease to be dealt with, 
will be the best criterion for the inexperienced operator, and to those who are not acquainted with the 
precise rate of growth that fruit-trees should be kept at, so as to establish a permanent condition of 
fi'uitfulness, the following remarks may be of service. Whenever a Peach or Nectarine tree makes more 
than from a foot to eighteen inches of wood throughout the tree in one season, it is too vigorous, 
and requii'es to be checked by root-pruning. Apples, Pears, Plums, and Apricots, when spur-pruned, 
ought never to be allowed to make more than from three to six inches of wood annually. By properl3r 
protecting the blossoms in spring, and duly thinning the fruit, trees may thus be kept in a siutable 
state of growth, and will continue to produce abundant crops of fruit luitil they become worn out, 
when they may be removed to give place to young ones. 
