The Cedar County advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Iowa) 1853-1856, 1854-04-08
AHN1cynTyAAn.
prunlag ana Masa cement a Trees.

"When shall | prune my tiers" is be.
ing asked by all hands, and had thought
it might not be out of place at this time to
offer few suggestions on this point. -
Pruning as usually prac,iced operates as
an irreparable injury, rather than pro-
ducing the desired result.
The operator places himself before the
tree, axe and saw IN hand, little knowing
what he is about TO perform, bur knowing
that it Is customary TO prune fruit trees III
the spring. He "slashes away" limb az
ter limb, his main OBJ ect being to get the
top Of the trees as high up as possible,
,ha, it shall not interfere with ploughlng,
&c, as he is anxious TO raise as much IN
the orchard as on the same number Of
acres in other parts Of the farm, forget
ting in the meantime, that no par, OF the
premises pays as profitable an income as
his orchard. And yet he regards land
thus appropriated as nearly thrown away,
except when the trees are loaded with
rich and delicious fruit, and then he hest
tates not to take dollar per hushel, for
getting to appropriate part OF that libor-
al and easy income to the extra care and
attention OF his trees.
There are various opinions in regard TO
the best time TO prune fruit trees, some
say February, some think March the
proper time, but from much observation
on this point have long been OF the opin-
ion that when the sap commences clrcula-
ton and the buds expand into new leaves,
lmpartlng at once 10 the tree new vIgor
and life. that this is the best and most
proper time TO prune, if any pruning is
necessary. | am well aware that too
much pruning is practlced, and that there
Is not sufficient care exercised In cutting
smoothly and at the right point. Some
cut too close while others cut too long. -
All limbs, when taken off, should be cut
at the rim or circle, where it Joins the pa
rent stock or main body. Ii large limbs
are Topped off, the wound should be COW
cred with composition Of wax, or Gum
Shellac, prepared for this purpose. Snail
trees will require no pruning. but remo-
wing all limbs that cross each other, or
may be too compact or thick 10 admit |
tree circulation Of air and plenty oI light,
"ii'~hi - Ai~NN@@ais ~ piShsiStN ii'"'NiiN
vigorous growth and also mature perfect
specimens Of fruit.
Avoid trimming too high, as you thus
expose long naked stem 10 be scorchcd
BY The Ac: sun and injured by severe
winds. Three feet is high enough to
form the top of any tree. In gong
through your orchards you will fad that
1t is the long slim OF tall trunks OF yom
trees that arr blis,ered, and In many IN
stances entirely dead on the south west
side. You can find this on no low top
ped trees, as the low heads protect the
bodies from the sun.
Newly transpunted trees should b. cut
back in proportion 10 the more or less
inu.i!ated roots. Tins viii insure a Thrift
ty, healthy growth the first year, which is
very important.
All fruit trees should be we'll mulched
with course litter Of rotten straw. &c.,
This will protect them from our long con
Ilnued drouths during the summer months,
will also keep up vigorous growth, aud
greatly improve the size and quality oil
me fruit. This matching should be APP
Piled the last oil May or when the dry
season sets in. Rotten chips should new
er be used, as il is always fall oil efabs,
;crnin &. which are injurious TO all
trees. W. III. l..
South Bend, Ind.