3o4 
THE FLORIST. 
and best yet obtained; the general form is excellent, the size 
is large, the petals bold, firm, and remarkably smooth, the 
white pure, and the marking, which is of a rosy carmine, 
strong and bright (and, as it should be, confined to the edge), 
so that altogether this forms a very attractive flower. 
Fig. 2. Rosy Circle (Payne), is of the light-edged rose- 
class, a very constant and delicate variety, standing at the 
head of its class; this also is a large full flower, of fine form, 
with firm smooth broad petals, very pure, and having the 
marking confined to a thin even thread-like line of rose- 
colour, resembling Mrs. Barnard, to which, however, it is much 
superior. 
BOOT-PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES. 
Having in the last number offered a few remarks on the spur- 
pruning of fruit trees, we now take up the subject of root-pruning, 
which we regard as nearly of equal importance. Notwithstanding 
all that has been written on root-pruning of late years, we do not 
find it so generally attended to as it ought to be, especially on 
wall trees. Most, if not all, the failures in fruit-tree culture are 
owing to something wrong at the roots. We hear, year after year, 
of fruit trees gumming, cankering, and dying off; this arises entirely 
through allowing the roots to strike too widely and deeply into the 
cold soil. VV^hat should we think of the plant grower who bestowed 
much labour and attention in tying out and training of his plants, 
but paid no regard to the state of the roots or the soil ? We would 
at once say that such a person was ignorant of the first principles 
of scientific gardening. Successful plant cultivation depends in a 
great measure on the care and attention given to the prepai’ation 
of the soil, tlie drainage, and potting of the plants. To succeed 
in fruit-tree culture we must always pay the greatest attention to 
the state of the roots in the soil, &c. Between the roots and leaves 
the action is reciprocal. If we allow the roots to strike deep into 
a highly enriched, strong, retentive soil, we must naturally expect 
robust luxuriant growths, which will never get properly matured 
in our climate. And yet how common it is to see young trees in 
this state. IIow often do we see even young peach trees encou¬ 
raged to make robust shoots, which, for want of the high and warm 
temperature of the American summers to ripen, after a few years 
die of canker. Then people say it is no use attempting to grow 
the peach in open air in this country, it requires the aid of glass. 
Unsound tissue is the result of rapid growth. If trees are allowed 
to grow rapidly for a few j’-ears without any check, sooner or later 
the evil will show itself; they may tide over a few mild winters, 
but the first severe one will either kill them, or so completely 
injure them, that they never do much good afterwards. We have 
this season seen hundreds of apple trees, even, which were so in¬ 
jured by the frost last winter that they will never recover. 
