Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-04-18
agricultural.
Theory and Practice of Pruning.

Soe1efy oy d. d. hooper.
Mr. President:-In consulting the bes
authorities on this interesting and impor
tant subject, such as L;adley, Kenrick, Cob
bet, Cole, Downing, Thomas, Barry, Elliot
and Others, we find very considerable di
versity of opinion, not as to the time, bu
the mode of performing this very importan
horticultural opinion. One says: "The
most suitable season for pruning (appl,
treesl is that interval between the tim'
vhsn the frost is out of the ground IN til,
Spring and the opening of the leaf
Another states: Moderate pruning should
be done in June, July, August or Septem
Der, though it will answer very well till De
cember. If trees are pruned in July, Au
gust or September, the wood will become
hard sound and well seasoned-we should
prefer October, November or even Deeem
Der, to the spring sOhsch is the a0orst sea-
son." Another sums up the matter thus
"There are advantages and disadvantages
attending all seasons of pruning, but om
own experience has led us to believe, that
practically, a fortnight before summer is by
far the best season, on the whole, for prun-
ing in the northern and middle States. y
Still another, famous for wisdom, answered
a question on this point, "lchen your tools
are sharp" An intelligent correspondent
Of Downing's Horticulturist, Henry F.
French, says: TAI the writers of books,
and most of the growers of fruit, have some
decided opinion on this point, on which
they are ready to peril 'life and limb" both
Of their trees and themselves, if necessary,
and although most of the late authors teach
otherwise, the general practice in this sec
ton Of the country New Hampshire) is
still to prune apple trees in March and
ApriL, before the bursting Of the buds, and
it will require strong and obvious reasons to
change the customs among our horticultu-
rists and farmers" He continues, "Kenrick
and Forsyth were considered good authori-
ty, formerly, and although admit that my
opinion has been at times much shaken by
more modern writers, I have, together with
many of my modern enlightened neighbors,
whose trees are among the very best from
personal observation, seen no reason what
ever to change my practice. One of his
reasons is convenience, Spring being more
leisure season. Another that the bark
does not slap, also, that in summer he has
his land in cultivation, and by pruning then
the crops must be much injured by the
branches thrown upon them. AS to the
wounds not healing so readily in the Spring
he state that vigorous trees will not suffer
In either season. He then goes on to show
how the most rational theories correspond
with the above results. He mentions the
fact that in the Spring the sap rises from
the roots to the branches, and not by capil-
larry attraction merely, and not in the tirst
instance, by any attracting power, exerted
by or through the leaf, buds or branches
would seem to be true, because the sap flows
in great quantities from the very stlImps of
trees recently cut Every boy, in sugar
sap country, has drank from the top Of
rock-maple stump, followed out to retain
tho uprising sap. And French writer,
NJ. Dubrochet, in a recent work proves the
force of the sap of grapevine
to be sufficient to raise column of mercu-
ry to the height of twenty-eight inches
But whatever be the principle of the mo-
ton, this ''upward striving" of the sap oc-
ours chiefly in Spring. AT least at that
season, it has a greater power than at any
other. 1t has, also, then, peculiar cbarac-
Ter or qualify, and that the first flow of the
sap is designed to promote the growth of
lOood. If this is so, wounds would heal
more readily than those made afterwards.
The growth which is made in early Spring,
IS endured, therefore, entirely by the sap in
the roots. By diminishing the top, previ-
BUS to the rising of the sap, the remaining
shoots receive the sap designed for the
whole, and therefore make a more vigorous
growth. The fertalizing sap which induces
ruifulness is not formed until late, the
caves being the organs of its formation
By late pruning, so much of the vitality
# the tree is wasted as is gone into the |
growth Of the branches removed. A late
pruning promotes fruitfulness at the expense
Of the Eigor Of the tree, as it seems to be
generally conceded thatanything that checks
ihe growth of the wood, as root pruning
ind the convese seems to be true, that great |
fuitfuluess, however indrcel, checks the
growth Of wood. That the removal of part
# the top in early spring, promotes the
growth of the remainder, seems evident from |
he rapid growth of scions, even when set
n full grown trees, and probably no one VII /
,ontend that the growth of scions, even
Yhen set in full grown trees, and probable /
10 one viii contend that the growth of the
rood is, in the same degree, increased BY
running in summer. at is a common and /
Ioubtles correct idea with our farmers that
o kill bushes they should be cut in sum-
ner, and that if cut in tho winter or spring,
he life principle IS still kept active in the
cot, and they will spring up anew"
l will here add, in corroboration of these
lets, Mr.. President that havc sometimes,
uring 90 years in which l have been cul-
waiting fruit trees, had the misfortune, in
,mmon with the rest of my neighbors, to
ave the tops of somo of my trees almost j
ltirely, and some of them complete !
browsed off by CATTLE l confess 1 felt, at !
10 time, like the trees, considerably cut Y
,wn, and internally upbraided myself for I
ot being more careful, and not seldom have l
cut with two edged swordish tongue, I
lose whose faultit was not to fasten proper &
: the gate-but, 10! after a short time, my S
ees, particularly those which had been t
Iost thoroughly headed IN by the barbarous S
made shoots three or four feet j,
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