Show Marsh Tells Proper Way To Prune Apple Orchards Orchard This i ll u tho second orI of A e series lc of tho fiyo articled 8 on the 12 u uto o of the tho pru prunIng shears by ly iC I-iC Roy PoT J Marsh 1 district agricultural inspector This article eals specifically with nith the pruning ot or of of peach ach tree will ill be explained heat cst Saturday I 1 In Jn order to produce apples of the tho highest quality ther there are arc er certain tain tam factors In the matter ot of o prun pron prunIng In log that are Indispensable and a alack alack lack of ot knowledge of the follow V In Ing factors will cause causa damage There Thero Is a Id wide differ ditter- nce once nce between correct pruning and an tree tt-ee butchering butch pruning Is theart the the- art Of 01 o when liow ow to do doIt doit d dIt It how to direct the growth ro or of trees ot of varying habits and how to conserve the fertility ot ot- the soil loa so as well as the energy enery of the tho tree Too heavy annual pruning annual prunIng cape ellie- dally daily In cutting back the U rat pal growth thus thoa causing the tree to direct the th major part e ot its It energy In reconstruction of or Its it frame at the the- of ot fruit is 1 entirely wrong In fact the pra practice tice of making n terminal cuts 0 ot any kind on the apple except 11 tt the case e of very young trees trets where R Is II necessary to multiply tho the ter or stock elder Ide limbs mal mah- mah mak making tog ing th them m more rigid i is wrong Ninety per cen cent cent- should hould be base Cuts culs Among the most important thoughts that the pruner should In mind the following should have care careful Cui consideration Age Bearing Habit of growth groth Whether en n or a spread spread- spreader spreader er cr Distance DistancES apart Soil fertility Taking the above e thoughts in or den der the th age ac of A s tree Is ot of major Importance Importance- whether it be bo the young orchard in the making or ortho orthe ortho the tho renovation of the older or orchard chard clard In the case of ot the the- young oung youn tree let it be bo assumed that It had one seasons season's field growth sot and 1 of of average thrift The number of ot main scaffold limba imbs comes first Th There rl should not be over four and three I Is bet bet- better better bet better ter as It will vill reduce the danger dangel bf hiving having to remove large limbs jitter ter on account ot of too much wood These limbs should be evenly distributed on the the- main stem litem sod and never nver ver opposite one another form torm form Ine ins a crotch that will split spilt and ruin the tree on its first attempt to carry a hea heavy load The Tile terminals or of th the remaining branches be cut back one ono halt half of the cur cur- current current current rent season seasons season's growth which will cause them to to multiply thus Iv- Iv ivins lv 11 ins a greater to select elect front from the following season leason Having started with the proper number number- ot of o scaffold limb limbs the work now from now until the tree be- be begins ins be gins ms to bear will consist o 0 removing In log ing- these thue branch that are out ot of harmony with the general plan plait planor or of Gr They The should be removed as a soon as It ft Is seen that they can canor or Ol should be dispensed with be cause the longer loneer they are allowed to remain more coons energy ot of the tree and the th fertility of the soil Ia I l Much of this work ork can ho bo done to a good advantage ad ln dut-ln during i the summer instead ot of waiting nfl un- un winter when the die remo a causes the tree treo to put ort too heavy a growth crowth The summer sommer lIl Jemo of or these branches that are are superfluous is II a prime factor factor- in the even ren steady growth of th the young oung vigorous nl ap- appie appie pIe tree especially tree especially where the tho boil Iz b very ery v ry fertile and where hero frequent cultivation is to growing crops among th the trees treel As the trees begin to bear bear- fruit It will VII ot of course be on the lower wood woo that being being- the oldest and anthe the removal ot of this wood merelY merel for Ipp appearance arance is wrong In tact fact it I is II a policy at this tills ata stage e to some somo som of the tha looks ot of the thc for tor- fruit and then as the wood hither higher up comes into hear ing and ana the turning between wood and ad fruit has been reached In the li litS lito of the tree the tho lower branches can be taken oft of of The varieties that are known a R at- at heavy leavy bearers with a tendency t to overload and produce undersized fruit should have their bearin bearIng wool l held to the point where tho fruit will reach the maximum size alze This rule should be followed In al all cases where old trees over bear In pruning old trees always alway make base bae cuts and avoid much of oC the excessive water water sprout growth Next ext in order is I the hab Its It of growth 1 I the variety varlet be bean bean D Dan an upright such a as the Rome Red ned Astrachan or Yellow Transparent tty U tendency Is I to torro grow strait straight up u shutting out al ai sunlight and making spraying next to 0 Impossible Tho The intelligent pruner will II begin be be- be begin gin on tho the young tree treo by makin making cuts all all cuts with the last terminal bud buc pointing out This should bo be fol- fol fol followed lowed towed each ellch year forcing tho the tree treo te tc abandon its It I natural habit of growth and spread Where older upright trees treel tree aro are to be pruned It Ili b be necessary to remove some lome or of the larger branches from the center of the tree I leaving the ter- ter terminal tel ter terminal minal branches pointing out In pruning pruning- trees ot of the spread spread- spreading spreading ing habit the reverse system to that of ot the uprights Is I followed All cuts should be b made at the bas base or of the branch pointing up thus hus the growth up Instead or orcut orcut cut cut It should be e remembered l this his cutting not only onry assists In getting the right shape but also stocks th the thO limbs to carry their load lond without drooping droop to the extent that it will have to be cut oft of ff on account oC ot being in the way war Distance apart must be care Care- carefully Carefully fully considered as well as tho soil fertility as It can be readily lIeen that where trees are c too close orthe or orthe orthe the soil poor the amount of ot frUIt per tree must be reduced to me mett t these conditions If the trees be farther apart or the eon soli Is ferUle fertile then the tho tree wilt will be he able to carr carry a much larger load These are conditions that the tho intelligent pruner must understand for for- they all combine to secure l truit of or the quality Lastly the pruner must carry In Ills his mind the Ideal tree under unde vary vary-Ing vary vary- ar log ins conditions and endeavor to toJ J bring each tree ns as J ea flea flea- to that ideal eal as will wll penn permit It Always have the tb pruning Ill saw and sharp and make mak clean elean cleanth smooth th cuts close to tl the tha limb from irom or which the branch IJ 13 removed thereby giving the cambium a a Chance chanc to build over the woun wound and prevent decay entering Decay Dc De- De Decay cay will eventually destroy the tree i Cover all wounds ot of o larger than three Quarters of ot an Inch in eter oter e with white lead or better stIlt still grafting wax February and March are Ideal for tor pruning the apple |