Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-03-21
farm ann Garnen.
Talk aboat Pruning.

sharpening their tools for the annual
trimming We beg leave 10 men,
ton few leading principles lying at
the base Of this operation.
IN the outset, it may be safely
said that iht re is altogether too
much pruning doue; or at least, that
it is performed With too rough and
rsIess \ band. II is scarcely more
a light matter TO a tree to have one
Of lis branches Topped of, than for
u man TO have an arm amputated.
The body Of an animal has no
redundancy; no surplus parts which
suay be 7, moved, and the main s!ruc-
ture continue just as vigorous as be-
fore. Nay We not iuf.r, therefore,
fr,m analogy, that every part Of the
vegetable is needed 10 preserve its
health, and to enable i! to fulfil the
designs of natureg
All observing gardners know that
the Several pafts Of q tree or plsnt
are closely connected, and that one
portion canuot De injured without
at the SINE time injuring others
Cus oG, or mar branch, aud at
once a portion Of The root feels the
blow and srf rs from it. So if you
cut of a root, he injury IS felt
among the branches. Nor is this
surprising, il. as some say, the branch
10 only an extt n,ion OF the root,
every bud above the ground having
q corresponding bud or rooilet be-
low. But whether this exact balance
Of parts exist or not. there is, without
question, nice sympathy and cor
resrondence Of growth aud health
between them. ii prune the top
Of tree closely for several years,
do 10 facI prune The roots also and
rice rersa IF tree bias an abup-
dance of leaves, it has, and must
have an abundance Of roots.
Hence we see why We are direct
ed TO prune a hedge in midsummer,
il We wish TO restrain its growth
and keep it stationary. Pruned 10
spring. there is DO loss of foliage,
but a rapid determination of sap
into The remaining buds. Ito restore
the balance between root and branch,
and hsnce vigorous growth
Hence, too, we see why it is better
20 transplant small trees than larger
ones. The first can be taken up
with little mutilation Of root and
branch, and when sgain set out,
they go on their way almost as il
they had moi been disturbed. The
latter cannot be uuearthed without
cutting of and mangling many o.
their roots. and so introducing de.
rangemeut and disease into the whole
structure. Something can be done,
it is true, towards restoring. the equi-
librium Of the paris, by cutting Of
a large portion. Of the branches at
the time Of transplanting; but this
gives the tree another severe shock;
it depiives il Of larger part Of
it's celebrating organs. and 60 be-
tween the double abuse, it is long
time before it RECEIVERS it ever
does : from the severe injuries.
The effect Of ipjudicious pruning
nay be seen in almost every orchard.
How many a large limb is bewn of
and the stump, not being properly pro-
,ected from the elements, decays and
brings disease into the entire tree!
The natural life Of the apple tree,
when growing 10 the field ondisturbed,
is about century Of years; yet in
many Of cur orchards, it seldom
reaches over half of that period
So much for civilization.
Mus: We, therefore not prune Mt
all? By no means. 1t is the heroic
style. we weigh against, and would
have il dispensed with as soon as
possible. Moderate and timely pru-
ming has much to recommend it,.
The beauty Of tree and its fruitluls
ness may be promoted by it, and that
With little injury to the trees
health. Plainly, however, 10 accom-.
plish this, the work must be begun
very early, and take the character
Of training rather than Of pruning:
the crassioas icing mostly done Tith
the thumb and finger, or with no
more formidable instrument than vi
jack-knife. Let the saw be broken
AID the Ratchet buried
In pruning for beauty, sill that
is needfnl, is to begin with Young
tree, nip ont any cross.branches that
appear. pinch OF any one sided IN
shaped shoots, and endeavor TO keep
the tree symmetrical. Within such