Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-29
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Boston Journal.
THE PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES, &C.

trees cultivated in gardens are of the
kind frequently termed dwarf standards
When the young graft has just been
planted, whatever length it may be, or
whether possessed of only one shoot or
two, it is necessary to prune them back
to about six or eight buds. In the
second year, if successful, the tree viii
have at least eight or nine young shoots,
some well placed, and some crossing
each other. At this time, pruning is to
be performed with care. Five or six
shoots well placed-that is, forming a
circle, or so disposed as to leave a dis
tinctly open space in the midst of the
tree when all are pruned away but these
are to be selected to remain. This
being done, and the eye well determined
on nice form for the future tree, the
waste shoots may be cut away, observ-
ing to leave nearly half an inch of the
base of each shoot. The selected shoots
are now to be shortened, and as a gener-
al rule nearly one-half the length is
pruned away-the object being, under
this dwarfing system, to cause the lower
part of the tree to develop an abundance
OF spurs, or the rudiments of spurs. IF
the operation of shortening be dispensed
with, some of The gross shoots will soon
take the lead, and the tree become un-
wieldly. The second years pruning
being thus carried out, the tree in the
course of the next summer will have
completed its full compliment of shoots
and after another selection in the next
pruning season, shortening and thinning
out will be the principal requisites for the
next year or two.
In selecting shoots to be retained, the
short-jointed and brown-looking shoots
are to be preferred to those which are
pale, succulent and long;jointed. In
shortening the shoots that are to remain
} cut back to bud which promises to ex.
tend the tree rather than to contract IT
unless the tree be of very struggling
habit. Let the shortening back be les:
every season after the third years pru.
ming, for the trees by that period would
be thrown into shape, and the lower
! spurs being in great measure formed
there win yearly be less tendency tc
| produce gross or barren shoots, especially
when an occasional root-pruning is given
The apple, as also all other fruit,
which occasionally grow over-luxuriant
is thought to be much benefited by root
pruning; judicious performance of thi,
! operation will cause any kind of frui
t tree to produce blossom buds, provided
= that the case is merely one of over
! Iuxuriance, and that the tree is healthy il
constitution. With regard to the apple
the process should not be commenced
. until the tree has been established for a
least three years; 10 commence earlier
would be robbing the tree of much nee
essary size. Besides this, to apply it t,
young trees which have never attained
: considerable amount of luxurianee, vii
tend TO produce premature old age. /
is on the latter principle that the Chimes
, produce their famous miniature trees
The roots need not be cut away in con
tiEuous line, but the spade may be intro
duced at intervals. 1t is TO be borne il
mind that any given root supplies sap t.
the whole tree, and does not alone in
fuence any particular part 1t requires
of course, little judgment to determine
what proportion of the roots to cut away
y The GoosEBERRY.-the cuttings {
gooseberry should be as strong as posi-
bic, and about twelve or fourteen inche
II long. All the buds should be prune
n clean away, with the exception of tn
L topmost four, previously to planting
P The cuttings may be put in shady boz
o der, in rows foot apart, the cuttings I
o be about six inches apart; It is well /
'r let them have some spare room, as th
ct plants will thus be stouter.
e BY the next autumn there will be Z
least two good shoots on each cutting
D. these two will be enough, and they mu
:: be pruned down to about four eyes
r buds on each shoot. Unless particular
70 wanted for planting in their final locaiio
L they are to remain another season
their cutting beds, when they will
strong bushes and require permanel
T" place. They should be pruned short
er before being removed. In this prunin
le the first point is to select five or six
the best placed shoots as TO form. settir
them out uniformly; all that interfe
= with this form may be cut away, and ii
3 remaining shoots shortened about ha