The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-03-27
Talk about Pruning,

N', '.'N"Sh hoI VoilincuuuDie, pldcticc VI
spring pruning, will be sharpening their
tools for the annual trimming" we beg
leave to mention fow leading principles
lying at the base Of this operation.
In the outset, it may be safely said
That there is altogether too much pruning
done; or at least, that it is performed
with too rough and careless hand. IL
Is scarcely more a light matter to tree
10 have one of its large branches Topped
of, than for n man to have an arm am
putated. The body of an animal has no
redundancy, no surplus parts which may
be removed, and the main structure con-
tinue just as vigorous as before. May we
not infer, therefore, FROM analogy, that
every part Of the vegetable is needed TO
preserve its health, and to enable it to full
fill the designs of nature9
All observing gardeners know that tho
several parts Of tree or plant are close
ly connected, and that one portion can not
be Injured without at the same time inju-
ring others. Cut off or mar branch,
and at once n portion Of the root feels the
blow and suffers from it, So, if you cut
of root, the injury is felt among the
branches. Nor is this surprising, if, as
some say, the branch is only an extension
of the root, every bud above ground hav-
ing corresponding bud or rootlet below.
But whether this exact balance of parts
exists or not, there is, without question,
nice sympathy and correspondence Of
growth and health between them. If i
prune the top of n tree closely for several
successive years, | do in fact prune tho
roots also and vice versa. If a tree has
an abundance of leaves, it has, and must
have, an abundance of roots.
Hence we see why we are directed to
prunc hedge in midsummer, if we wish
to restrain its growth and keep it station
ary, Pruned in Spring, there is no loss
of foliage, but rapid determination Of
sap into the remaining buds, Ito restore
the balance between root and branch,)
and hence vigorous growth. Hence, too,
we see why it is better to transplant small!
trees than larger ones. The first can be
taken up with little mutilation of root
and branch, and when again set out, they
90 on their way almost rs if they had not
been disturbed. The latter can not be
unearthed without cutting off and mang-
ling many of their roots, and so introduc-
ing arrangement and disease into the
whole structure. Something can be done,
it is true, toward restoring the equilibri-
um of the parts, by cutting off a large
portion of the branches at the time of
transplauting; but this gives the tree
another severe shock; il deprives il of a
largo part Of its celebrating organs, and
so, between the double abuse, it is long
time before il recovers-if it ever does
from the severe injuries.
The effect of injudicious pruning may
be seen in almost every orchard. How
many large limb is hewn of, and the
stump, not being properly protected from
tho elements, decays and brings disease
into the entire trce The natural life of
the apple-trec, when growing in the field
is about century of years;
yet in many of our orchards, it seldom
reaches beyond half that period. So
much for civilization!
Must we, therefore, not prune at all?
By no means. 1t is the heroic style wo
nyeigh against, and would have dispen-
sed with as soon rs possible. Moderate
and timely pruning has much TO recon-
mend it. The beauty of tree and its
frutfulness may be promoted by it, and
that with little injury TO the trees health.
Plainly, however, to accomplish this, the
The work must be begun very carly, and
take the character Of training rather than
Of pruning; the ercisions being done
mostly nth Thumb and finger, or with no
more formidable instrument than n jack
knife. Let the saw be broken, and the
hatchet buried.
In pruning for beauty all that is need
full is to begin with the young tree, nip
out any cross branches that appear, pinch
off any one-sided, ill-shaped shoots, and
endeavor TO keep the tree symmetrical.
Within such general limits, let the tree
develop its own peculiarities, and it will
be beautiful according 10 its kind. When
ever branch larger than ones little fin
ger must be taken off, the wound should
be covered with grating wax or shellac.
In pruning for fruitfulness, the aim is
TO impede the perpendicular flow Of sap,
and the tendency to make more wood.
This is often effected by cutting out the
central shoot, and by favoring, in various
ways, a horizontal growth of branches;
This checks the wood making force, and
the deposition of fruit buds.
This also gives the tree moro globular
shaped head, and so exposes tho fruit to
light and air, and improves its appearance
md flavor.
AS to the best time Of year for prun-
inp, this mag depend somewhat upon the
object VIC wish to accomplish. If we
want to guide the growth Of the tree in
20 new directions, or to stimulate stunt
ID tree, the last of Winter, or very early
n Spring may answer, though the best
prefer the Fall or late Sum-
(Continued on the Ar page.