12 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER 
[ July 1, 18t6. 
The buds of fruit trees, I dare to aver, do change after the leaves fall 
■when the conditions are favourable, and these are so simple that they can 
be afforded by anybody who has a few young trees and a spade. I have a 
recollection of an observant student of fruit trees, and an expert cultivator, 
stating in this Journal that he had induced many of his trees to change 
the nature of the buds in the winter, and, what is more, I went to see the 
results of his experiment. He had long rows of pyramid Pears and bush 
Apples—that is to say, dozens of trees of the same age, size, and variety. 
Having observed that his root-pruned or transplanted trees invariably 
blossomed more freely in the spring following their disturbance, he was 
led to opine that the check they received was the cause of their florifer- 
ousness. For testing the matter he had alternate trees in rows dug up in 
November, root-pruned, and replanted. Without an exception these trees 
had at least five times the number of blossoms on them the following 
April that those had that were not disturbed. The difference, indeed, 
was so striking that I venture to say the owner of the trees, his gardener, 
and their several visitors are not likely to forget the lesson that it was 
impossible to ignore. A fairer experiment was never made than that, 
nor one more conclusive. It was completely at variance with Mr. 
Abbey’s theory, that “ buds do not change in the bud state after the 
leaves fall from the trees.” I am warranted in saying they do change, 
and why should they not? What is a fruit bud ? It is an arrested wood 
bud, and nothing else. Whether the cessation of extension is natural or 
artificial matters not, the result is the same — the embryo leaves are 
transformed into petals and organs of reproduction. There are numbers 
of buds on fruit trees in the autumn in the intermediate state between 
fruit and wood buds, and no man that I have seen can tell with certainty 
what form some of them will assume in April. They are arrested, but 
not sufficiently so for determining the point, but a further check by root- 
pruning will sett'e the matter. Scores of frnit trees are planted an¬ 
nually, and their branches not shortened, that make little or no growth, 
but are studded with fruit buds that would not have formed if the trees 
had not been disturbed. Force has been lacking for extension into 
shoots, hence the metamorphosis. 
It is for the same reason that what is known as ripened—that is, hard 
wood, is not essential to the formation of fruit buds. Observe, I am not 
advocating overcrowded, sappy, ill-fed wood, that is very far from my 
intention ; but Ido say that cutting back shoots to where the wood is hard 
and brown, as if that were an infallible test of “ripeness ” and fruitful¬ 
ness, is greatly overdone, and much fruit is sacrificed in consequence. In 
point of fact fruit buds do not form so well on the lower, older, and 
harder parts of annual shoots as on the upper, softer, greener, and younger 
portions. This may be seen alike in Peaches, Apples, and Pears, and it is 
that which has led to the adoption to a much gieater extent than formerly 
of what is known as the extension system of management. If hard, 
brown, and so called “ripe ” wood is alone fruitful,how is it that thousands 
of growths of Pears, for instance, the last and latest inch of growth made, 
terminates in fruit buds ? It is because the root force is expended on the 
other parts, and growth is necessarily arrested at the extremity of the 
branches. 
So far as regards the production of fruit, not taking into account the 
form or shape of the trees, the less the branches are shortened the better, 
after the first year or two from planting, provided—and this is important— 
they are so thinly disposed that the sun and air can act directly on the foliage. 
It is assumed the roots are in good and well-drained soil, and not mutilated 
by digging amongst them. Then will fruit buds form in the greatest 
numbers, and the ripening of the wood may be left to take care of itself ; 
it will “ take care ” to ripen sufficiently for its purpose, and will get 
harder and hardier as the years roll round. Trees, as we all know, must often 
have the growths suppressed to keep them within prescribed bounds, and 
to mould them into some ideal form ; but I repeat, that when fruit, and 
fruit alone, is the main object, it is best secured by having the branches 
thinly disposed and not shortened, as then a maximum number of spurs 
is eventually produced with a minimum quantity of breastwood. 
The manufacture of “ breastwood ” in fruit trees of vaiious kinds by 
a systematic shortening of the branches to “ hard ripe wood ” is a gigantic 
waste of the earth’s resources and a fertile source of barrenness. Cutting 
off these luxuriant laterals is not arresting growth but directly encourag¬ 
ing it ; for if the roots are left intact their force is concentrated on a 
smaller area, and just as that is restricted in the same proportion is 
strong growth incited. The point can be made clear by an illustration. 
Confine a volume of water to a narrow channel, and it rushes headlong 
and with great force in search of an outlet, while the surrounding land is 
parched and vegetation languishing; but divert the stream into a number 
of miniature creeks, and exactly in proportion to this number is the force 
of the volume diminished, and a thousand trickling rills carry sustenance 
to crops that would otherwise suffer, while the concentrated current would 
rush wastefully away. It is exactly the same with iruit trees that are 
subjected to close pruning, while the roots are permitted to extend 
unrestrictedly. 
It is impossible, to me at least, to think out a subject of this magnitude 
in a few minutes and make it intelligible to the inexperienced in a few 
lines. It is in the interests of thoi-e I write, and not for experts who 
know as much about the subject as I do, and need no teaching ; they may, 
indeed, know more, and thus be in a position to confute me. They are 
quite at liberty to do so. I do not in the least object to be defeated in a 
pleasant manner, for it is a simple fact that 1 have been taught more by 
defeats, disappointments, and failures than by anything else in my 
gardening career. 
But can anything be done now to render fruit trees more productive ? 
Certainly. Thin out the branches and shoots wherever they are so 
crowded that the sun or light cannot act directly on the leaves at the 
base. Never mind those at or near the extremities ; they will fcrce 
themselves out of the crowd—yes, and store sufficient nutriment there 
while the wood below and three months older—and which, consequently, 
ought to be riper—is barren. Ripe wood does not necessarily mean hard 
wood, but rather wood stored with nutriment by the leaves, whatever its 
age or colour may be. Ah 1 but the timid may say thinning out 
branches now will weaken trees by “bleeding.” Nothing of the kind. 
There can be no escape of sap to do injury. It is diverted rather than 
lost when there is plenty of foliage left, and whatever loss there may be 
is, to speak paradoxically, a gain—a reduction of exuberance. Even a 
Vine with two rods does not “bleed” injuriously when one is cut out 
with the other in full leaf. It is far better, safer, and more profitable to 
prune whatever needs pruning in the summer when the leaves are on the 
trees than in the winter when they are off, because at the former period 
the trees are not only immediately benefited, but the wounds heal the 
sooner. I think I have said enough on the subject of fruit trees at pre¬ 
sent, and Mr. Abbey can have another “ cut in ” if he likes. 
It seems a little curious that gardeners who pride themselves, and 
not without reason, on their skill in growing vegetables, hesitate to express 
an opinion on cutting the weak growths of Asparagus. The point that is 
not so clear as is desirable is this : Is Asparagus strengthened by cutting 
the small growths or “ spray ” that are not large enough for use till say 
the beginning of June, or not ? or is it immaterial whether they are re¬ 
moved or left ? This is a very simple question that the authorities appear 
either unable or unwilling to answer. Possibly they are making experi¬ 
ments, and the results may be expected by-and-by. I have a few other 
things “ on my mind,” but cannot get them off at present, as I am just 
off to Liverpool, and possibly may, on some future occasion, say what I 
think about the Show.—A Thinker. 
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEP CULTIVATION. 
Mr. William Hudson, head gardener to Mr. W. T. Marriott, J.P., of 
Sandal Grange, near Wakefield, read an exceedingly interesting essay on 
“ Deep Cultivation ” at a recent ordinary weekly meeting of the members of 
the Wakefield Paxton Society. Mr. T. Senior, solicitor, was in the chair, 
and Mr. H. Oxley, one of the vice-presidents, officiated as vice-chairman. 
Mr. Hudson, who was very attentively listened to and frequently 
applauded, said his chief object was to direct their attention to what he 
considered an improved method of cultivation. In the first place he 
recommended them when digging always to bring a little of the fresh 
subsoil to the surface with every spadeful. However bad and inert the soil 
might be, if it had time to get thoroughly pulverised it would always 
improve the quality of the surface soil. They knew by experience that 
deep cultivation and thorough pulverisation of as much of the soil as 
possible was essential to the production of good crops of all classes. That 
land at the present time did not receive the attention it deserved was 
evident from the decrease in the quantity it produces. In his opinion land 
was as good now as ever it was, and in every way as capable of producing 
as good crops if properly managed. He was glad that the matter was 
receiving the attention of some of our legislators. There are few soils to 
which something may not still be done in the way of improvement, while 
by far the greatest breadth of land is still susceptible of extensive amelio¬ 
ration. The most important immediate effect of thorough drainage is that 
it enables the rain or other surface water to descend more deeply and to 
escape more rapidly from the soil, and the under soil in well-drained land is 
warmer, becanse the rains in the summer season bring down warmth 
through the atmosphere. Rain equalises the temperature of the soil during 
the se'ason of growth, hence the necessity of watering all plants grown in 
pots with tepid water. Taking thorough draining as the basis of all land 
improvement, the skilful cultivator renders the dry ground a fitter medium 
for all plants to bring their precious products to perfection. Roots in a 
confined space, supplied with manure, became crowded together, declined in 
health, and their growth was checked. This disappointment arose from the 
subsoil, though dried, being left in a hard state, whilst if it. were in a state 
of pulverisation like the surface soil, the roots, whenever stimulated by the 
manures, would strike down in every direction into the subsoil, and the 
more they were encouraged in growth the larger would they become.. After- 
pointing out that the state of the subsoil sensibly affects the condition of 
the upper soil, Mr. Hudson went on to say that the benefits derivable from 
thorough draining and deep cultivation may be regarded as physical as well 
as economical. If the operations he described rendered the soil drier than 
it was before, if they rendered the drier soil warmer than it was before, if 
they lessen the evaporation of moisture, and impart a consequent warmth to 
the air around ; if they, on the other hand, supply moisture to vegetation at 
a period when it would otherwise be wanting, these are physical benefits 
tending greatly to the amelioration of the local climate that cannot fail to 
promote the healthy growth of all cultivated plants. The economical 
benefits derived by the soil and subsoil from thorough draining and deep 
cultivation were numerous and important. 
Mr. T. Garnett and Mr. Turner (the Treasurer) having made some 
observations on the subject of the essay, Inspector Cordon proposed a vote 
of thanks to Mr. Hudson, and this was seconded by Councillor Milnes, and 
supported by Messrs. Oxley, L Twigge, and the Vice-chairman, all of whom 
referred to Mr. Hudson and his essay in very eulogistic terms. 
Mr. Hudson, in responding, enlarged on the great importance of deep 
cultivation, and said that in order to obtain good results gardening ought 
to be carried on all the year round, and instead of land being allowed to 
remain just as the crops have been taken off in the autumn until the 
