Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-04-18

planting, although no doubt it should be
done in a more moderate extent than to-
tai disrobing of their branches, as is the
case sometimes by trespaSsing cattles At
any rate trees should be so generally trim
med when young in such manner that
there will be no necessity thereafter for cut
ting large limbs.
Although rather lengthy, am here
tempted to quote passage on this subject
from the Revue Horticole, by NJ. A. Puvis,
a distinguished vegetable physiologist, which
is much to the point in the question we are
now discussing. He says: "By pruning at
the rising of the sap, we induce in the trees
barren, through over luxuriance of growth,
flow of that sap from the roots, which
produce vigor. What call the fertalizing
sap is at that time not yetformed, since the
leaves, which are its organ formation, do not
yet exist; the wood growth that is made in
the early spring is owing them entirely to
the sap of the roots. 1t is only when
the roots are already considerably develop
ed, and the leaves have acquired some con-
sistency, and their Stonsdta or breathing
pores are well organized, that the growth
takes place which directly forms fruit buds.
Having admitted the fact that the first
flowing sap Of the sap of the roots
determined the vigor or health Of the trees;
all dimirution of this increases the relative
proportion of the sap of the leaves, Tor
rather the sap elaborated by them, and con-
sequently the chances of modification. To
render this opportunity more eficacious,
Mr.. Rubens makes, at the time of the risings
of the sap, first pruning which removes all
badly placed or superfuous branches and af-
terwards he thins out the buds upon the
moro feeble shoots.
This early pruning hastens the starting
of the tree and make it vigorous. Thus in
diminishing previous to the rising of the
sap, the number of buds that it is to nour-
ish, those which remain receive along with
the sap originally destined for them, that
also intended for buds which were removed
the shoots are consequently more vigorous
and are developed sooner, because a great
increse of sap causes more prompt devel-
opment of the buds than a less abundant
flow. On the contrary, late pruning wea-
kens and retards the tree, although it dis
poses it to bear the fruit; for the sap of the
roots III the early spring is carried directly
to the terminal bud and to those nearest to
it. In late pruning those buds are re-
moved to which was directed the largest
supply of sap; great loss of sap is thus
effected, so that al; the preponderance of
sap calculated to produce excess of growth
being lost, the fructifying food collected or
digested by the leaves has the preponder-
ance; moreover, this method retards vege-
tation, since the tree is deprived of its most
vigorous and advance limbs, and some time
must elapse before the buds which remain
can reach the same condition as those which !
were cut off by this delay; the Towering
time is also retarded, and consequently the
tree has less risk to suffer from the sudden
variation of spring temperature.
Thus it is, by impairing the strength and
vigor of the tree, that a late pruning
makes it fruitful.
1t should be remarked that late pruning
should be employed upon very vigorous,
healthy subjects. We have seen it applied !
to vines of only moderate vigor, and al
though it preserved their shoots from late
frosts, yet the following year their crops was
a feeble one, from being exhausted the year
before. 1t may, besides, answer to restore
an equilibrium in tree, whatever its shape,
by an early pruning of the feeble branches,
and late one for those which are too Wig
orous.
Lindley, that eminent Vegetable physiolo-
gists and botanist, remarks that pruning, if
we'll directed, is one of the most useful, and,
if i'll directed, it is one of the most mische-
vious operationa that can take place upon a
plant He observes that when portion of
q healthy plant is cut off, ali the sap which
would have been expended in supporting /
the part removed is directed into the parts
which remain, and more especially into
hose in the immediate vicinity of it. Thus,
f the leading bud of growing branch is +
stopped, the lateral buds, which would 9th
9rwise have been dormant are made to
;prout forth, and if growing branch is
shortened, the very lowest buds which sell
lom push, are brought into action, hence
he necessity, in pruning, of culling a use
ess branch clean out, otherwise the removal
# one branch is only the cause of the pro-
luction of great many others. This ef-
ect of stopping does not always take place
sometimes its first effect is to
ause an accumulation Of sap on branch,
which directs itself to the remaining buds,
Ind organizes them against future year. :
"Nothing," Mr.. Downing observes in a
tote to his author, Nindley,) dis more gen
raj of late years, than a short period of
in the peach tree throughout
be Middle States. Although this is often :
wing to the worm which girdles the tree
t the root yet the almost total neglect of
running is frequent cause of sterility and !
ecay. When left to ITSELF the interi-
r of the head of the tree becomes filled
nth small dead branches, and the trunk
nd larger limbs bark-bound and moscow
red, the whole tree is enfeebled, leaves are
My produced at the extremity of the long e
ranches, and the fruit borne, if any, is
worthless By pursuing the
ractice recommended in the text, (pruning
l. the trees may be preserved for a long Ii
me in high state of vigor and produc- F
yeness on suitable soil. He remarks fl
he pruner in general has no other object in o
lew than that of thinning the branches so
s to allow the free access of light and air u
, the fruit; and if these purposes are wise ri