| Show PRUNING MATURE FRUIT TREE one should know something of of tree and use good tools to be an intelligent pruner one must know something of plant physiology he should know the effects produce by pruning at different seasons of the year how to mke a cut that will most readily and the influence oc pruning on the trull bearing habit oi the tree writes prof 0 D ot the colorado experiment station tt Is generally conceded that prunine during the dormant season incite wood growth while pruning during the growing season promotes and since our trees tend to overbear it Is logical tor ua to prune durane the dormant season although it is said that pruning during the summer season may enczur age the formation of fruit buds on bearing varieties it may hare the 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 at growth ends earlier pruning new growth while late pruning give no results the benefit derived from bummer pruning seems to depend the ability of the pruner to prune ai a time to bring about early maturity in an irrigated section where soil conditions are easily controlled the same end may no doubt be more easily attained by proper manipulation of the irrigation 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 hare every tool on the market many 0 them are useless t does mean bow 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 palf et heavy shears possibly ros sibly a good beacy knife and of course a good ladder two common t pes of saws are found 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 la many cases A discussion of the amount of arua ing required by different varieties could almost as well be introduced aa those on the pruning of different kind ot irule trees yet the growth oc me tree aaa 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 wineslao and missouri pippin may dashed be as varieties that require severe pruning the jonathan at the age of 11 or 12 years almost anvari ably begins to grow spindling in the top and requires frequent cutting anck 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 axils of leaves on both shortened spur like twigs and the stronger stron gei grow ing new wood these fruiting spare p the differ from those of the cherry fn that they develop ne true terminal buds rhe manner of pruning cherries adl depend 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 shide the trunk to prevent sun scald and to en courage the growth of fruiting wood throughout the entire top the sweet and semi sweet varieties are upright and will need some heading in to keep them within bounds transplanting trees mark off the places where each I 1 to stand dg a hole fully three feet wide and one foot deep pill this halt full of top soil then put in a good shovel of well rotted stable manure stir this thoroughly with the soil already thrown in set the tree on thia and fill up with top soil if the soil or the trees are dry water should be poured in when the root are partly covered the water will settle the soil among the roots and the trees will live protect from rabbits tie a small bunch of straw or paper around the tre in the fall and remove it in the spring n tala |
