OCR Text |
Show When and how to prune fruit trees (By LIMA R. ROSE.) The pruning of a fruit tree, or vine, should commence the first year; but as very few of the fruit-growers grow their own trees, it is not necessary that we make a close study of the manner of pruning nursery stock, except that we should understand what class of trees to soct for planting, when we are able to make our own selection. In selecting nursery trees, avoid a slender, top-heavy tree, that Is unable to sustain its own weight of leaves. Avoid the trees that have the head formed too high, and one that has a fork or crotch that Is liable to split down w ten loaded with fruit and leave you with a crippled or ruined tree at a time when It should be in its prime. As soon as you get your trees from the nursery your time for pruning commences. com-mences. If you are starting an apple tree that is of a drooping variety, start the head higher than you would if it Is an upright growr. Trim Roots and Tops. Trim off all bruised and injured roots with a sharp knife, leaving a clean-cut surface that will form a cal- summer than to allow it to grow and cut it off in the winter. The wound heals more rapidly ; and when the shoot is removed its energies go into the irregularity when not looked after, the top shoots taking a large share of the food, and running higher and higher, high-er, and making a tall, top-heavy tree. Cut the top off square, and take pains that you leave the end bud on the outside, out-side, to spread the tree as much as possible. When cutting off a limb make the cutting surface as small as possible, so that it will heal quickly. Cut close to a shoulder, and not leave a stub to decay and run down the main branch or trunk. Try and do all the pruning possible with the pruning-knife, pruning-knife, although sometimes it is necessary neces-sary that you use heavier tools, When necessary to use a saw, select a fine-toothed, fine-toothed, rib-back saw. A pruning chisel is dangerous to use on account of its breaking many limbs, and not making a smooth, clean cut. Best Time to Prune. The question of best time to prune has never been settled to the satisfac- ' , , . L v : : APPLE TREE BEFORE AND AFTER PRUNING. lous and begin to send Put new feeding feed-ing roots at once. The top should be trimmed to correspond corre-spond with the roots ; if a tree has lost some of its roots, trim off a corresponding corre-sponding amount from the top, to balance bal-ance the loss. On the other hand, if all the roots are saved, it will not be accessary to severely prune the top. In forming the head of the tree, plan it so that the side toward the prevailing winds will be a little heavier heav-ier than the side "opposite; some even lean the tree toward the direction of the prevailing wind. When we prune a tree, we must ieep in mind the fact that the limbs md roots are co-workers ; and when we remove a large amount of the top at any one time, we check the action of the roots, and consequently the growth of the tree. The first few years after an orchard ' .s planted, the trees should be pruned twice a year, very lightly once in late winter or early in the spring, and again along in the summer. It will be better to cut, or pinch, off the shoot in tion of all good horticulturists ; but m my opinion it does not matter much if we only cut out small limbs, and prune frequently. As soon as the leaves have fallen in autumn is advised by many to be the best time to prune; however, some cling to the opinion that the cold and dry winds make the wounds slow to heal, and there is danger of forming a diseased spot where ti e cut is made. Some claim that vlhen a large branch is removed, it will heal faster when removed in midsummer; but there are some serious objections to that rule. It is a very busy time, the foliage is heavy and hard to handle, and the removal of a large portion of the tree injures the growth of the tree. But, we have noticed one advantage of late winter or spring pruning of grape vines, and that is the fact that deep snows often break the canes that have been left after pruning, worse than when they are left attached to the wood that is removed in the early spring. |