Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-05

! sap ItOln Tue SLIOIS uTdIlSucS " tuC "Soh0
all the branches would be equally strong
The descending sap, on reaching the weak
er branches would become ascending sap
And if the small branches be considered
distractions preventing the descent Of tn
sap, the large branches must be greater Oh
structions. But where does the sap de-
scend from? Primers forget, that they eau
no, cut live spray from tree without les
sening the quantity Of its leaves. lhei
theory is founded in error, and all thei'
reasoning is sfalse"-BalIardi in Farm Mag
This explains what often seems enig'
uatical to superficial bservers in vegetable
economy, viz. that moderate sized trees
from a nursery, have ordinarily a much
thrifiier and healthier growth, and arrive
sooner 10 good bearing state, when trans
planted, than trees that are very large. Ia
the former, natural proportion between the
roots and the branches is preserved,--the
! former being taken up nearly entire-the
sap vessels are filled, and the growth is bu'
partially retarded. While in taking up
very large trees, whose roofs have greatly
extended, the mouths of the plant are se-
riously diminished, the sap vessls contract
and become indurated, in consequence of
the diminished supply Of sap--and the tree
must acquire new roots, and new sap.wood.
by a slow process Of growth ere 1t can
flourish with its accustomed vigor. Tho
same evil results from cutting off the entire
top of tree. 1t is deprived of its elaborat.
ing organs; and although the root may send
up,tlle elements of food, they cannot benefit
the plant for want of leaves to convert them
into vegetable blood. 1t is no argument
against this position, that deciduous trees
spontaneously develope foliage and flowers
in the spring. There is store Of elabora.
ted sap laid up in autumn to effect this
Strip tree in June, when this store is ex.
hausted, entirely of its leaves, and the tree
viii not grow, and will probably die. The
stem, at least, will sustain serious injury
The nurseryman knows, that after an apple,
pear or plumb stock has been cut down and
grated upon, the heart. wood becomes ua-
sound if the graft fails to grow. and the whole
stock doty and in manner Of worthless
for future scion, and that It will not glow
a particle above where it sends off succors.
The tendency of pruning to generate dis
ease, and 10 shorten the life of trees, Is ii.
us,rated in the appearance of old orchards.
which have been injudiciously pruned.-
Wherever a limb Is split of by winds or ac-
cident, it exposes diseased heart. wood
and this disease at the heart spreads to the
roots and branches, and induces premature
death. The natural duration Of the apple
tree is believed to be more than one hum
dred years; and ye, how few are found in
a healthy stale at fifty years? Mark the
contrast, in sounduess of wood. in vigor of
growth, and in duration Of life between the
apple, and other frequently Pruned trees
and those tees, whether fruit or forest,
which are left to luxuriate naturally, without
the artificial aid Of the pruning knife.
lfpruning be prejudiciallo the growth and
logevi,y, why then, We may be asked--why
prune at all? We answer. for utility, to
give beauy, and to improve and increase
the fruit.
In natural forest growth, trees attain
height, and a straight clear timber form,
from their crowded situation; and as The
lower branches become useless they die
and fall off. But in cultivated grounds, or
where there is ample room for roots and
branches to spread, this does not take
place; and hence the propriety Of pruning
here to obtain good stem for timber, or a
handsome top tor shade and ornament.-
Often there are Two or more leading shoots
striving for the mastery, and unless they are
shortened, or taken of, there will be two
or more stems, of diminutive size, instead
of one stem, oflarger size. We may there.
fore prune shade trees to improve their form,
or to please the fancy, and timber trees to
improve the bole but in neither case do
we either increase the growth, or prolong
the life ofthe tree.
"As iae twig Is bent 80 will the tree in
cline" is literally true in regard to pruning.
We may give almosl any form 10 trees
which fancy may conceive, by beginning
early, and preserving with the pruning knife
or shears, as is witnessed in clipped hedges,
and often in ornamental and garden
grounds. We may make them dwarfs or
standards, or give them thin or dense
foliage, at our pleasure. They may be
trained or Gu, into the shape of animals, into
geometrical forms, or architectural compo.
sition.
We prune fruit trees to improve the fruit,
and to induce bearing habit. The roots
oftrees take 10 from the soil a certain guam.
tity of vegetable food. call it geine. or hu.
mus, or organic remains, or what you please
lit has constituted paris ofvege:able struc.
ture and is convertible, by natural process.
es, into wood or fruit. or both. If the ten.
dency ofthe plant is TO wood, as is generally