The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-05-26
q arie " 1 t 1t fal,
[rRoM THE eARpnNnR,g noNrnLr.l
Fruit Garden.

nrrnn~ Since we undertook the management
IF this naner we have repeatedly called attention
tn tbe fact that of all operations, this the least
understood and vet one Of the most important.
Tt must not be forgotten that the OBJECT OF pinch
inc off is to qyeaken shoot. Ihe lower shoots
are ALWAYS the weakest by nature, and should
noyor he shortened in summer DR.. Lindley ex-
Mains this 50 clearly in his Theory of Horticul
tnrp that we can do no better than extract his
own words:
fThere is 20 difficulty in obtaining the re-
ouisite number of branches, at proper distances,
bv observing the following directions: Plant a
maiden tree in autumn allow it to establish it.
self for one year. and then head it back to good
eve, few buds from its base. Let one shoot
grow as strong and upright as possible during
the summer, and head it back to within thirteen
inches of the ground in autumn, cutting very
close to bud in order that the shoot springing
from it may form little or no bending; train it
upright whilst three or four shoots, from buds
Immediately below it, should be more or less in
clined to horizontal direction, according to their
strength the strongest should be more depres-
sed These three or four constitute the COM
mencement of the first or lower tier. For the
next tier, head back the upright leader to with
in eighteen inches of it's base, if the soil is rich
if not, to fifteen inches; and from the shoots pro-
duced in the following season from buds, just I'M
per the cut train shoot for a leader, aud three
or four somewhat horizontally, as before, for a
second Precisely in this manner tier after tier
must be started till the tree attains its assigned
height All this can be effected in accordance
with the natural disposition of the tree to form
an upright stem, and with the tendency Of the
sap to develop the uppermost buds ola shortened
shoot But it is not to be done without serious
difficulties.
"The shoots started for horizontal branches
will rarely take that direction on the contrary,
they will generally diverge at an angle of As deg.
This may and should be overcome by tying down.
The disparity of vigor in the upper, as compared
with the lower branches is more serious affair.
If allowed, the former will soon oyergrow the
latter, and the pyramid will ultimately become
inverted. It is, therefore, evident that in order
to have well-conditioned pyramid pear-trees,
means must be adopted to maintain vigor in the
lowertiers of branches, and repress over-luxuri-
ance in the upper.
With the view of invigorating the lower,
permit the shoots to grow without restraint till
September, and then bend them towards a hori-
zontal position. They will thus be mnch strong
er than if they had been made to follow a hori-
zontal direction from the beginning. Shorten
them little at the winter pruning, in order to
obtain "a stronger leading shoot than would
otherwise be produced. Cut to side bud one
on the upper side would produce stronger shoot
but the latter could not be brought down with
out occasioning an unsightly bend Besides
leader, some other shoots will probably be pro-
duced let them grow, for their foliage will as
sist forming channels or layers of wood contain
ing channels, for the transmission of sap along
these branches in the following season. The
growing shoot should have its point elevated till
September, as before. No reduction of foliage
connected with the lower branches should be
made by summer pruning. Their leading shoots
must not be overshaded
In order to prevent excessive uxuriance in
the upper branches, recourse must be had to
summer pruning as the most efficient means
The shoots should be trained horizontally from
their origin, their points depressed instead of ee-
waited. In short, they must be subjected to
treatment generally the reverse of that recon-
mended for the lower branches"
Another very importont subject Of attention
at this point is the destruction of insects, and
the prevention of their ravages on trees and
fruits
Bottles of sweet liquor suspended among the
branches of trees destroy innumberable numbers
of them, and are attended with Out little labor
or trouble Possibly some application of SINH
lar substance to the newly-invented fy-paper,
which catches and destroys flies by the thousand
very easily, might be attended with beneficial
effects. Fires occasionally in orchards where
many apple moths exist, of au evening, would
undoubtedly destroy many very easily but this
process cannot be employed in those localities
where over-zealous fremen are on the look
1or a chance with der machine
The smell of coal-tar is offensive to most in
sects. Tow or rags saturated Herewith aud nut
IN various places amongst the branches may have
some advantages. Damp hay or tobacco-leaves
tleo TO the end Off pole, and when the fruit is
damp or covered with dew, the bunch fred and
the smoke led through and among the branches
has been found very useful. Sprinklinp the
fruit with oily water, or solution Of SCOT Or sn1.
phur or aloes, or some other thing that may be
known to be unpalatable to the miserable vermin
should also be tried
The borer may be easily prevented from in
1urip 4ho IL e 4roo nv