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THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
February, 1910 
W.Guiuw.,] Maritime Pines, Emu Flat Forest Reserve, 
[PHOTO 
15 years old. 
application referred to, With a view to 
‘testing the comparative value of some of 
the arsenates of lead now upon the 
market, the Horticultural Branch of the 
departient is conducting an exact test 
with those known as Swift’s, Nicholls’ 
and Platypus at a small orchard near 
Lyndoch; and it is hoped that by the 
end of the season something like definite 
information will be available. Even up 
¢+o the present one or two points of. 
interest have transpired in connection 
with the use of these arsenates, but it is 
not proposed to make any statement at 
present respecting their various values. 
There is no doubt that this form of 
arsenical spray is superseding all others, 
very largely because of thu ease and 
simplicity with which it can be utilised, 
and also on account of the fact that it is 
less injurious to the trees as well as to 
the spraying apparatus than other 
_ar-enical mixtures.’ 
—‘ Journal of Agriculture of S.A.’ 
Hints on Root-Pruning 
Fruit Trees. 
A fruit tree must not be root-pruned 
unless 1t is absolutely necessary that it 
should be done. If a tree makes pretty 
strong growth and the latter ripens and 
bears good crops of fruit, then root- 
pruning would be a mistake, as the result 
of such pruning would be to cause a 
stunted growth generally. 
Root-pruning is absolutely necessary 
when a young specimen continues to 
make still stronger growth from year to 
year, and which does not ripen nor bear 
fruit. Again, when a young tree has 
been severely branch pruned, and _ this 
has caused a too strong growth to follow 
which has not thoroughly matured, root- 
pruning is essential. Very severe branch- 
pruning causes a mop-like growth of 
sappy shoots which will not be servicable, 
and the only thing to do then is to create 
a balance between plant and root growth. 
This is done by exposing the roots, as 
described below, and the reduction of 
their dimensions. The principals of 
root-pruning are the restriction of the 
size of the large roots by cutting them 
back, and so causing the new growths 
from them to be fibrous, and the preser- 
vation of all existing fibrous roots. The 
longer the large, fibreless roots grow, the 
more rampant the branch growth is; the 
more fibrous the roots are, the better will 
the branches ripen and bear flower-buds 
and, finally, a full crop of fruit. When 
the trees are once brought to this condi- 
tion, they remain fruitful without 
further pruning of the roots, the annual 
crops preventing a too laxuriant pro- 
duction of branches. 
Exanple: A tree with a stem 3 inches 
in diameter must have a trench opened 
3 feet 6 inches from it. All large roots 
must be cut off, fibrous ones retained. and 
the trench must be refilled with goods 
gritty loam, mixed with the original soil, 
and made firm. 
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Prime quality fruit will not this season 
be purchasable, except at an advance over 
prices paid for last year’s crop. 
