September 1C. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
381. 
so much vital action, consequently the violent impulse 
of the sap becomes lessened. In the second place, it is 
well-known that a constant reciprocity exists between 
root and branch, and that it is one of the functions of 
the elaborated sap to descend, and repay the root with 
interest what it had borrowed. A portion of the roots, 
then, being removed, less demand is made on the re¬ 
turning fluid, which thereby accumulates in increased 
! degree in the branches, producing an immediate teu- 
dcncy to fruitfulness. This we believe to be the 
rationale ol the afiair; and if we are wrong, we will 
thank some friendly hand to set the question right. 
But in this, as in everything else, extremes must be 
avoided; there are breakers a-head which, with unskilful 
piloting, would damage the vessel. As it is but fair to 
exhibit both sides of the question, we may as well show 
j why extremes are to be avoided. 
Insect attacks are very common in the summer suc- 
| ceeding the operation, and sometimes are particularly 
| severe. Those insiduous and obscure enemies, the fungi, 
are also very apt to follow this operation in some fruits, 
more especially the apple. One fungus, which appears 
to be of the genus (Jredo, we have been exceedingly 
plagued with. Added to these, some members of that 
more numerous than respectable family, the Coccus, or 
, Scaly-insect, are exceedingly liable, after a severe root- 
| pruning, to pay a visit; amongst such, the Aspidiotus 
ostreafonnis stands in bold relief, as visiting unlucky 
pears and apples. 
Now it may not be uninteresting to consider why it 
should be so ? and although our inferences may be some¬ 
what hypothetical, they will not be without a use, if 
they only serve to attract a closer attention to a subject 
that deserves farther examination. Every one has seen, 
in his time, coarse weeds, thistles, and other rough herb¬ 
age which had sprung up in pasture, rejected by the 
cattle, and left to cumber the ground, whilst all around 
them, perhaps, was browsed almost as close as a bowl¬ 
ing-green. If such herbage, however, be cut and left to 
wither for a few days, stock will readily devour it. It 
certainly may appear strange to attempt a comparison 
between the habit of such small insects as the aphides, 
j the coccus family, &c., and such huge animals as the ox, 
j or the horse; but there assuredly is an identity in this 
i point, at least. The insects alluded to attack the fruit- 
! tree with increased vigour when that tree is deficient, or 
; entirely destitute, of an ascending current; and so with 
1 stock, as to coarse herbage glutted with moisture. Now, 
i whether it is the crudeness of the sap in a strong sub¬ 
ject, or whether the check in question, by causing a loss 
of some of the essential properties of the plant by evapo¬ 
ration, remains to be proved; perhaps they have a con¬ 
joint influence. As another collateral case, bearing on 
this matter, we may be allowed to point to many in¬ 
doors plants, which are well known to practical men to 
be speedily infested with insects if their watering be 
neglected. The Thunbergia, for instance, is speedily 
covered with the red spider; and Calceolarias, Cinerarias, 
&c., with aphides, if watering be neglected when the pot 
is full of roots. Now, these phenomena appear to meet 
| in a point, and constitute a subject worthy of much con¬ 
sideration by those who can thus devote a leisure hour. 
Well, then, we have said enough to put the tyro on 
his guard; to show that he must use some caution in 
root-pruning; and that he must be prepared in the 
! returning spring to ward off the attacks of these insects 
should they commence operations. Indeed, in all such 
cases, it is far better to use a wash as a preventive to 
all trees severely operated on, whether by transplanting 
or root-pruning, for similar results may be expected from 
both ; and every one knows what a prostration of powers 
is the sure consequence if a transplanted tree be per¬ 
mitted to remain through the first summer in an infested 
state. We do not make these observations with any 
idea of restraining the hands, or alarming the minds, of 
those who have genuine cases requiring root-pruning: 
by no means; we still have as high an opinion of the 
practice as we had when it was a new hobby, and when 
we were frequently accused of riding it too fast. 
We may now remark on the character of fruit-trees, in 
order to point out fitting subjects to the amateur; as 
also to show in what cases success must be sought in 
another direction. Whatever the kind, as far as our 
experience goes, if over-luxuriant and healthy, a tree is a 
fitting subject for the root-pruner. As to healthiness, 
surely the most common observer can determine this. 
The marks in fruit-trees which point to a healthy con¬ 
stitution are such as these :—a clear and healthy bark, 
with a deposit beneath, producing an impression of 
what we term fatness in an animal; a liberal amount of 
young shoots, a well-coloured and well-developed foliage, 
and a freedom from gum and wounds. These, in the 
main, are the criteria by which to determine health of 
constitution. On the other side, there are trees to be 
met with which produce growth almost as robust as the 
healthy subject, but generally, fitfully or partially. 
Some with decaying points; some with whole shoots 
suddenly dying off—what the country folks term 
“ strickensome trees of considerable age wearing out 
at the extremities, yet producing much spawny breast- 
shoots out of the old branches, with other awkward 
appearances. Now, persons must not suppose that 
root-pruning will mend such cases. We have no 
panacea in gardening—no universal process; and those 
who publish such, are either undistinguishiug or inter¬ 
ested parties. For ourselves, we do hope to proceed so 
cautiously in what we advise, that the advice offered will 
be equally applicable a century hence. 
How to treat those trees which form an exception 
to the root pruners art must be material for another 
chapter: in the mean time, let us carry out the subject 
to its natural close. The amount of roots to be cut 
away, of course depends on the strength and character 
of the tree; as, also, on its age. We have operated on 
old and luxuriant trees so strongly that they never fairly 
rallied; but this was in our earlier practice, and was the 
result of inexperience. It is astonishing how much 
sooner a young tree will regain a luxuriant point than 
one of some age; but this might be expected. In all 
cases, if rightly conducted, it may fairly be considered 
as adding three or four years to the age of a tree. It is 
an old maxim, that the roots of a tree extend as far as 
the branches, but such is not precisely the case. In 
general they extend farther; in some cases considerably 
so. It is not very easy to convey an idea of the extent 
to which root-pruning should be carried, without seeing 
the subject; but in order to approach a correct practice, 
we may classify fruit trees on the following basis: 
1st. Gross or luxuriant young trees. 
2nd. Strong growing trees of some age. 
3rd. Trees not particularly gross, yet required to be 
brought to a condition of fruitfulness. 
In the first division much liberty may be taken; we 
should say that, admitting the utmost extension of the 
branches as indicating the whereabout of the extremity 
of the roots, the circle included in that boundary may 
have nearly half its roots cut through. In division the 
second, let us say a third; and in division the third, say 
a fourth. This is all very arbitrary certainly; but as 
we cannot give advice from personal inspection, we 
must even guess at it; and it will be found that the 
guess will seldom mislead. One point we beg to urge; 
— that in making the excavation necessary to carry out 
the root-pruning, the trench be filled up with fresh soil, 
without manure. If no loamy soil be available, an ex¬ 
change may be made with the best soil near at hand; 
perhaps from a kitchen-garden. Our practice is, to dig 
a circular trench a spade’s width all round the tree, 
