Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-07-18
A0titnltNtnI.
Remarks on Summer Pruning.

AhOAidl 40 Oll DullAllLCl uillIlRs
"Pinching' is term often used in hor-
tcultural literature, and is one of those
technical words'that, although we'll un-
derstood among the initiated, has a We
ryindefinite meaning to the general read.
er at least in its horticultural appli cation
Pinchinl is a mode of summer pru.
ming whereby robust shoots are checked,
at an early stage Of their growth, by re,
moving their extreme points with pinch
between the thumb and finger; this re-
iards, for q time, their extension, and in-
duces growth in lower buds that would,
i'm all probability have remained dormant.
The process is applicable TO all trees and
plants, and is the best method of securing
any desired form Of growth o. shape of
plant, but it is now becoming more asso-
ciated with the management of fruit and
the production of fruits, than it has been
heretofore, and its advantages are slowly
being recognized.
The great tendency to growth in health.
3 trees is towards the extreme points Of
branches, and the prevalent mode of win.
ter pruning, those of robust growth are
put back more or less severely. This is
done with n view to encourage side or lat
eral growths but it is a very imperfect
mode Of gaining advantages which are
more readily secured by iudicious, and
timely care in summer. A moments re-
tlection will convince any one that it is at
best but negative practice to ALLOW q
tree to make a heavy growth of wood du-
ring summer and remove it With the pru-
ming knife In winter, thus sacrificing and
throwing away rs useless what has been
the great aim Of the cultvator o produce,
There are exceptions where winter pru-
ming will be absolutely necessity; in
young trees, for instance, it is evident
that healthy, vigorous and extended
system of roots is Of paramount impor.
tance. Sicklv, or weak growing trees
will also Ee rendered more vigorous by
cutting the branches we'll down in winter
but when the tree is well established, it
it is perfectly practicable to maintain its
produotiveness, and induce it to assume
any desired form by pinching during the
season of active growth, and we hesitate
not to assert, that the highest point in
The culture and management of fruit trees
will not have been reached, until this
principle has become fully recognized
and generally acted upon.
Even in an economical point of view
with reference to labor, it is obvious that
q saving will be gained by rubbing off a
bud in June, instead Of having to cut a
branch in December. Indeed the ampu-
tating of large branches is altogether OBJ
waited, and the nutriment which would
Eaye been appropriated by such, is absoro
bed by the branches retained.
Trees vary so much in their habits of
growth and are so susceptible to the in
huences Of soil and climate, that no defn-
ite practical rules can be given even bv
the most expert, that wod!d form safe
guide to the novice in tree culture. II is
n matter of individual experience and OBJ
servation no amount OF explanatory in,
formation will convey more than the ne,
cessity for tEo recognition of the general
principle, and that once firmly establish
ed in the mind, and the theory thorou gh-
ly understood, the cultivator will readily
acquire the discriminating know ledge
which alway follows practical experieu ce
and close observation.
One of the iaost common errors in sum
mer pruning and one that isalso extreme.
ly injurious, is that of delaying the operas
tlon until growth has made considerable
advance, and then in order to secure the
emission Of shoots at certain points a Sc,
we're diminution Of active foliage is the
consequence. We have seen grape-vines
thus treated, allowed to proceed unchecll
cd until the middle of July, and then a
foot or more taken from the end of each
shoot, that were completely paralyzed
and the crop total failure, the berries
remaining green until ovcrtallen by frost.
1t is such occurrences as the above that
give rise to the many apparently conflict
ing statements that abound in our hortiS
cultural and agricultural literature. A
course of practice is undertaken without
a proper knowledge Of the system or the
principles upon which it is founded, and
when failures occur, they are seldom at.
tributed to their proper source.
The perfection ofsummer pruning then,
consists in checking the growth of partic,
uIar shoots without diminishing the foli
age; when the extreme point Of a branch
Is bruised growth Will be checked without
the removal of leaves. Nothing is more
certain than this, that the welfare Of the
crop depends upon full growth of heal
thy ioliage.-Fdrmer and Gardener.