Show p w w horticulture PRUNING MATURE FRUIT treed one should know something of physiology of tree and use good tools to bo an intelligent primer one must know something of plant physiology he should know the efforts produced by pruning at different seasons of the year how to make a cut that will heal most readily and the influence ot pruning on the truit bearing habit of the tree writes prof 0 B whipple of the colorado experiment station it Is generally conceded that pruning during the dormant season incites v growth while pruning during the growing season promotes fruitfulness and since our trees tend to overbear it Is logical tor us to pune during the dormant season although it Is said that pruning dur ing the summer season may enczur age the formation of fruit buds on tardy bearing varieties it may have ibe opposite effect unless done at the proper time and may cause late an exaggerated type of open head growth and to give the desired results one must summer prune shortly before the season of growth ends earlier pruning starts new growth while late pruning gives no results the benefit derived from summer pruning seems to depend upon the ability of the pruner to prune at a time to bring about early maturity in an irrigated section where soil condl alons are easily controlled the same end may no doubt be more easily attained by proper manipulation of the alon water every pruner should be furnished with good tools good tools encourage him to do good work this does not necessarily mean that he must have every tool on the market many of them are useless it does mean how ever that the ax and a dull saw have no place in the catalogue of pruning tools the pruner needs a good saw a good pair of light shears a pair of heavy shears possibly a good heavy knife and of course a good ladder two common types of baws are faund pear tree improperly headed in on the market the common saw with teeth on both edges is a good cheap one and will answer the purpose in many cases A discussion of the amount of arun prun ing required by different varieties could almost as well be introduced aa those on pruning of different kinds of fruit trees yet the growth of the tree and necessarily the pruning depends much upon soil conditions and while it might be possible it would hardly be sate to lay down definite rules for the pruning of any particular variety both the winesap sap nd missouri pippin may be classed as prolific varieties that require severe pruning the jonathan at the age of 11 or 12 years almost ably begins to grow spindling in the top and requires frequent cutting back in the general growth and fruiting habit of the tree ane apricot occupies a position between the cherry and the peach the fruit buds are developed in the adlla of leaves on both shortened gaur like twigs and the stronger grow agnew wood these fruiting spurs of the apricot differ from those of the cherry in that they develop no true terminal buds the manner of pruning cherries will somewhat on the variety but the general plan should be to keep the fruiting area of the tree as near the ground as possible to shade the trunk to prevent sun scald and to en courage the growth of fruiting wood throughout the entire top the sweet end sweet varieties are upright growers and will need some heading in to keep them within bounds |