Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-01

latent in the bark on the tree side, and IN
the place of the removed root we have
soon developed numerous fbrous branch
es which proceed to extend their feeding
fibrils into the soil, and we find an i'm
mense amount of fresh feeding surface oc-
cupying the place Of the removed por,
ton, whose functions had become inert
through age. In similar manner with
the corn plant; the long, struggling roots
which occur in natural course through
the root pruning are caused to branch,
and thus offer larger feeding surface to
the soil than they otherwise would.
That this is so we have reason to be-
lleve through a course of experiments on
plants growing in water, and in pots dur
ing the past winter, as we'll as from care
full observation in the field plants which
occupied last years corn field. When
terminating corn was suspended over a
glass of water, the roots were perceived to
extend, without developing root-hairs,
until the nutriment contained in the seed
had apparently been exhausted. When
this period arrived, roothairs soon
showed themselves on the smooth, white
and cylindrical roots appearing first at a
distance from the extremity, and develop
ing downward with the growth of the
root. When the extremity of the root
was nipped off, the effect was to develop
large extent, and in many instances the
straight root became branched before the
experiment was closed, through an ina
bility from inexperience and want of the
proper facilities for continuing the growth
in properly fertiliZed media.
When the corn was planted in pots, the
same effects appeared upon pruning the
roots, and likewise whenever the extend
ing roots came plump against the side OF
the pot. Upon washing the earth care
fully from the roots by means of gentle
stream of water, the influence Of the prun-
ing in giving the roots fibrous character
was very perceptible.
1t was also matter of observation in
the field, that those portions which were
the best cultivated, produced the largest
crop; and a careful examination of au-
thorities shows beyond question, that un-
der judicious practice, the nearer to the
plant and the deeper the cultivator stirs
the soil, the better the crop-prOvided
common sense is use, and the plant is not
killed through following the letter of the
law, or the maturity Of the crop delayed
by its unreasonable practice.
Strange as it may seem, we are unable
to find, in any of the books and authori-
ties at our disposal, any reference to the
root pruning of annual plants, as bene-
fetal practice. The whole object of cul-
tivation is given as the stirring and aerat-
ing of the soil, it pulverization, and des-
tructiOn Of weeds Indeed, the mention
is occasionally made of the root cutting,
but it is propounded most sagely that the
benefits of the tillage so far exceed the in
jury of the root cutting of the plants, that
we must till, till, till-the more the bet
ter. Yet the secret of the success OF the
new husbandry as originated and prac-
ticed by Jethro Lull, must be explained
by the root pruning-the success of the
Louis Weeden husbandry, in the hands of
its originator and his disciples; and its
failure when tried experimentally by
Messrs. Lawes, must be explained by the
presence Of root pruning in the one case,
and its absence in the other. The profit
ableness Of drilling of wheat in England
over the broadcasting, and the fact that
there appears to be no prominent differ
ence between these methods of sowing in
ourcountry, may be legitimately ascribed
to the root pruning effected by the En-
glish method Of spring hoeing. When
we come to the practice of the florist and
the gardener, we find with them an en-
pirical practice, which, in part, accom-
plishes the same result, and produces
their success. Rural Neao Yorker.