280 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AXD  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
September  24,  1903. 
trees  that  are  allowed  to  grow  more  or  less  as  they  like, 
as  in  the  case  of  standards,  Avill  not  require  root-pruning  ; 
but  with  trees  that  are  restricted  in  size,  as  wall  trees, 
pyramids,  open  bushes,  and  other  forms,  it  will  often  be 
found  necessary. 
Varieties  of  Apples  that  are  naturally  free  fruiting,  such 
a.«  Lane’s  Prince  Albert,  New  Hawthornden,  Lord  Gros- 
venor,  Devonshire  Quarrenden,  and  others,  will  scarcely  ever 
require  root-pruning.  Stone  fruit,  as  a  ride,  require  more 
attention  to  this  matter  than  do  Pears  or  Apples,  Apples, 
perhaps,  the  least  of  all.  Some  are  under  the  impression 
that  root-pruning  takes  up  so  much  time,  and  hint  that 
they  have  quite  enough  to  get  the  top  pruned.  This 
is  false  economy,  for  when  a  tree  is  properly  root-pruned 
it  will  greatly  lessen  the  need  for  branch  pruning  ;  not 
for  one  year  only,  but  for  several.  One  is  sometimes 
asked  what  to  do  with  old  trees  on  walls  that  have  not 
fruited  for  yea-rs.  These  may  be  improved  in  some  cases, 
but  unless  it  is  the  wish  of  the  owner  to  have  the  trees 
preserved,  which  is  sometimes  the  case,  the  better  plan 
would  be  to  take  them  out  and  replant  young  trees  in 
their  place.  It  can  scarcely  be  expected  that  old  and  ex¬ 
hausted  trees  can  be  brought  into  a  very  satisfactory  fruit¬ 
ing  condition.  Then  there  is  the  risk  as  to  whether  they 
may  be  good  varieties. 
When  root-pruning,  a  trench  must  first  be  taken  out 
at  a  given  distance  from  the  stem  of  the  tree.  This  will 
depend  upon  the  age  and  size  of  the  specimen  dealt  with. 
A  tree  three  or  four  years  planted  about  2ft  or  a  little 
more  will  be  all  that  is  required.  But  3ft  or  4ft  should  be 
allowed  for  larger  trees.  It  is  always  best  to  have  plenty 
of  room,  because  one  can  always  work  as  near  to  the  stem 
of  the  tree  as  may  be  required  and  considered  safe.  In¬ 
deed,  wnth  some  noting  trees  it  is  even  a  better  plan  to 
carefully  lift  and  replant.  With  pyramids  or  bushes  half 
of  the  tree  may  be  done  one  year,  and  the  other  half 
subsequently.  The  trench  must  be  taken  out  wide  enough 
for  a  man  to  comfortably  work  in,  and  deep  enough  to  get 
as  low  as  the  roots  are  likely  to  go.  All  the  soil  should  be 
taken  out,  leaving  the  trench  quite  clear.  A  fork  is  often 
recommended  for  removing  the  soil  from  the  roots,  but 
many  of  them  will  be  broken.  I  find  it  much  better  to 
have  a.,  light  one-sided  pick,  with  a  handle  about  3ft  long  ; 
this  can  be  more  conveniently  worked,  not  being  so 
clumsy  as  a  fork. 
The  soil  must  be  carefully  picked  out  from  between  the 
roots  down  into  the  trench,  and  thrown  out  from  time  to 
time,  so  that  a  clear  working  space  may  be  kept.  All  roots 
of  a  fibrous  nature  should  be  preserved ;  they  may  be 
turned  back  toward  the  stem  of  the  tree,  and  kept  in 
position  by  a  lump  or  two  of  soil.  Sometimes  they  may  be 
loosely  tied  to  some  of  the  strong  roots.  When  young  trees 
are  operated  on  the  soil  may  be  removed  fairly  close  up 
to  the  stem.  An  important  point  to  bear  in  mind  is  that 
t^re  are  no  roots  left  that  are  pushing  straight  down. 
This  is  rather  a  difficult  matter  with  some  kinds  of  trees. 
The  thick  roots  should  be  cut  well  back  to  different  lengths, 
a  sharp  knife  being  best  for  this  purpose.  It  is  best  to  cut 
in  an  upward  direction,  so  that  the  new  roots  may  ramify 
in  a  horizontal  direction. 
In  returning  the  soil  it  should  be  made  firm,  and  the 
roots  carefully  spread  out  at  different  levels  as  the  work 
proceeds.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  add  some  burnt  soil,  wood 
ashes,  and  bonemeal  to  the  staple  soil,  which  will  greatly 
assist  the  trees.  With  Plums,  indeed  all  stone  fruit,  and 
especially  in  non-calcareous  soils,  old  lime  or  mortar 
rubbish  should  be  used,  and  the  whole  made  very  firm.  It 
may  seem  to  some  rather  a  long  process,  but  a  couple  of 
men  used  to  the  work  will  get  a  number  of  trees  done 
during  the  day.— J.  S.  U. 
- - — 
Autumn  Thoughts. 
Can  one  reali^  that,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  the  active 
part  of  the  year  is  over,  and  that  the  great  scene  shifter  is  now 
ringing  up  the  curtain  for  “The  passing  smiles  of  autumn  ”  .P 
Yet  it  is  so,  and  over  the  gardening  world  steals  a  feeling,  not 
of  rest,  but  of  restfulness;  and  not  of  satisfaction,  yet  one  of 
anticipation  for  better  things  to  come,  for  at  the  dying  embers  of 
disappointment  the  torch  of  hope  is  rekindled  to  guide  on  into  the 
unknown— the  unfathomable  future.  As  autumn  passes  with  all 
the  pomp  and  pageantry  of  an  almost  unearthly  beauty  in  its 
train,  gardeners,  of  all  men,  surely,  who  live  so  much  in  com¬ 
munion  with  Nature,  can  feel  some  sympathy  in  the  hard  hand 
of  the  great,  yet  capricious,  mistress  to  whom  they  minister  ere 
the  icy  grip  of  winter  enforces  ruggeder  realities,  and  incites 
to  more  pro.saic  work. 
There  is  no  lack  of  work  now,'  may  be  said.  That  is  so.  And 
there  is  but  small  comfort  in  contemplating  the  effects  of  the 
passing  year.  That  may  be  so.  Yet  who  can  look  upon  their 
immediate  surroundings  without  feeling  a  stimulating  hopefulness, 
that  the  comparative  barrenness  of  the  year  is  again  pregnant 
with  possibilities  for  another  season  ;  or  fail  to  feel  that  power 
which  lies  in  the  ministering  hand  to  promote  that  desired  re- 
.sult?  Nature  is  always  busy  in  some  shape  or  form,  and  has  many 
little  surprises  in  store. 
In  our  own  immediate  sphere  of  work  we  are  to  some  extent 
prepared  to  meet  the  latter,  or  .should  be ;  and  it  is  generally 
admitted  that  much  of  the  erratic  activity  she  displays  is  amen¬ 
able  to  control  if  a  prescient  knowledge  of  what  should  be  done 
and  the  energy  to  do  it  obtains.  There  is,  truly,  but  little  plea^ 
sure  in  looking  back  now ;  there  is  some  pleasure  in  looking  for¬ 
ward  at  this  particular  season  ;  and,  probably,  in  gardening,  as 
in  most  other  phases  of  life,  most  of  our  pleasures  and  the  keenest 
of  them  are  anticipatory. 
In  speaking  of  autumn  as  a  period  of  restfulness  the  term  is 
comparative  only.  The  hurry  and  rush  of  the  year  has  gone,  but 
much  remains  to  be  done,  and  the  vital  necessity  of  doing  it  with¬ 
out  delay  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed.  Nature  is  quieter, 
certainly,  and  there  is  a  spirit  of  quietness  prevailing  over  this 
early  period  of  the  passing  year  which  penetrates  the  .soul  of  the 
worker,  bringing  him  so  closely  in  touch  with  it  as  to  make  thi.s 
autumn  work  very  enjoyable.  Never  was  outside  growth  more 
active  than  in  this  year,  nor  was  there  ever  greater  evidence 
of  misdirected  natural  force  than  is  now  to  be  seen.  The  less 
fruit  the  more  woody  growth,  and  in  some  old-world  gardens  the 
season  has  been  conducive  to  a  mild  luxuriance,  which  bodes  ill 
for  future  prospects  unless  vigorous  measures  are  promptly  taken 
to  admit  all  possible  air  and  light  ere  it  is  too  late  to  derive  their 
full  benefit.  It  is  not  only  in  the  customary  “breast”  pruning 
of  wall  trees  and  normal  thinning  of  bushes  that  claims  atten¬ 
tion,  but  after  an  extraordinary  season  measures  should  be  em¬ 
ployed  judiciously  to  gain  the  end  in  view. 
In  the  glass  department  much  may  now  be  done  tO‘  promote 
those  happy  conditions  conducive  to  rest  during  the  dull,  short 
days  of  winter.  A  general  overhauling  of  .stove  and  greenhouse 
plants,  and  a  general  cleaning  of  both  plants  and  pots,  and  re¬ 
arrangement  of  the  permanent  occupants  with  all  the  additional 
room  that  can  be  given  to  them  by  the  removal  of  Caladiums  and 
similar  things  to  winter  quarters  in  the  background,  may  at  once 
be  done  ;  anything,  in  fact,  to  avoid  even  a  suspicion  of  over¬ 
crowding,  if  that  IS  possible,  will  well  repay  the  labour  or  even 
sacrifice  that  cominon  sense  prompts.  Possible? 
Of  cour.se  some  will  say  such  preaching  is  vain,  and  that  their 
houses  get  more  blocked  at  this  time  than  any  other.  That  is  so. 
Yet  it  is  not  rarely  the  case  that  a  lot  of  useless  stuff  is  held 
over  to  be  eventually  thrown  out,  and  the  grower  may  well  take 
second  thought  now  over  the  matter  than  defer  it  until  spring. 
Fire  heat,  not  higher  temperatures;  ventilation,  not  draughts; 
and  the  removal  of  temporary  or  discontinuance  of  permanent 
shading,  are  small  things  which  mean  much  now  and  more  here¬ 
after. 
As  with  the  jilant  houses  .so  with  the  fruit  houses.  There  are 
many  examples  of  the  evils  of  overcrowding  among.st  Vines  and 
Peaches,  particularly  amongst  the  latter;  and  where  the  removal 
of  canes  (thinning  out)  or  spurs  in  the  vineries  has  been  deter¬ 
mined  upon,  their  prompt  excision  whilst  atmospheric  conditions 
still  keep  foliage  and  roots  active  is  obviously  worth  more  than  a 
passing  thought.  Why  so  many  lay  in  and  tie  down  such  an 
abundance  of  superfluous  growth  the  Peach  is  capable  of  making 
in  a  season  it  is  not  easy  to  understand,  the  more  so  as  the  custom, 
which  it  appears  to  be,  is  useless  labour — nay,  worse  than  useless. 
However,  that  mistaken  policy  leads  further  back  than  these 
remarks  are  intended  to  do.  The  bulk  of  bearing  wood  can  now' 
be  removed  with  distinct  advantage  to  the  Current  year’s  growth. 
It  i.s  now  the  time  when  next  year’s  bearing  wood  fairly  revels  in 
autumn  .sunshine,  if  it  can  get  it,  and  future  prospects  lie  in  this- 
maturation  if  prevailing  conditions  allow’  it  to  obtain. 
Outside,  our  theme  might  be  prolonged  and  extended  in¬ 
definitely,  for  it  is  not  alone  applicable  to  the  fruit  bearers  first 
mentioned,  but  the  ethics  of  free  trade  in  light,  air,  and  such 
sunshine  as  may  be  vouchsafed  to  us  in  declining  days  includes 
nearly,  if  not  all  that  we  wish  to  pass,  not  only  comfortably 
through  the  possible  ordeals  a  winter  may  bring,  but  with  stored 
up  energy  enjoy  that  re.st  wdiich  means  renewed  vitality  and  pro¬ 
ductiveness  in  its  turn.  It  is  an  old,  old  story,  oft  repeated,  always 
wanted,  and  worthier  of  being  more  deeply  graved  on  the  mental 
tablets  of  this  gardening  generation  than  lies  within  the  pen 
power  of — A.  N.  Oldhead. 
Kylemore  Castle. — The  Duke  of  Manchester  has  purchased 
Kylemore  Castle  and  the  estate  of  13,000  acres  for  £63,000.  The 
estate  is  in  the  heart  of  Connemara,  andHhe  castle  has  several 
times  been  assigned  by  rumour  as  a  probable  Royal  residence. 
