DECEMBER. 
355 
We strongly advise, then, that before planting young fruit trees 
the soil should be so prepared that no robust growth may result; 
always aim at moderate-sized wood which will stand a chance of 
getting ripened, particularly peach, nectarine, and apricot trees ; 
by this means, and by not over-cropping whilst the trees are young, 
you will, in a few years, get a wall of well-ripened sound wood, 
which will stand any ordinary winters we may have, and will bear 
good crops regularly, with proper attention, for a number of years 
—What a pleasure to the gardener ! 
When young trees make too strong wood, they should be root- 
pruned ; and with young trees this is best done by lifting them, 
shortening the longest roots, then carefully planting them anew. 
All large trees on walls, such as pears, which it may be incon¬ 
venient to lift, are best operated on by opening a trench a few feet 
from the bole, then lifting the roots and cutting back the strongest. 
By root-pruning we check robust growth in young trees, and 
we bring robust unproductive trees into a bearing state. By 
operating freely on large, robust, unproductive trees, we stop the 
supply of nutriment, the growth of the branches is arrested, organ- 
isable matter accumulates, and fruit buds are formed. A single 
root-pruning will in general bring large unproductive trees into a 
permanently fruitful condition. When trees are in a good bearing 
state they will not require root-pruning ; and as all excessive 
pruning shortens somewhat the life of a tree, we should not do 
anything that would in the least degree aifect the continued pro¬ 
ductiveness and longevity of the trees. With regard to orchard 
trees, we would strongly advise caution in root-pruning. All 
large, robust, unproductive trees may be root-pruned with ad¬ 
vantage, but young growing trees should be cautiously root- 
pruned—-just sufficient to check robust growth—as it is better to 
wait a few years, than by root- pruning to bring them prematurely 
into bearing. Whilst striving by every means in our power to get 
well-ripened wood and fruitful trees, we must do nothing to 
enfeeble their constitution, as the ultimate value of all' orchard 
trees depend on the size, longevity, and productiveness of the trees. 
Stourton, Yorkshire. M. Saul. 
THE FLOBAL COMMITTEE OF THE EOYAL HORTI¬ 
CULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Since our last notice of this body, its meetings have been 
held in the Council Room, at the new gardens. South Kensington. 
The present season has been tolerably prolific of novelties, and we 
propose here to offer a resume of those which have obtained awards, 
besides which, however, many other interesting flowers have ap¬ 
peared. The following memoranda refer to the meetings held 
between March and July inclusive, up to the commencement of 
the Dahlia season :— 
First-class Certificates. 
Agatiitea ccelestis fol. variegatis.— March 12, Mr. W. 
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