The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-04-24
PRUNING TREES.

As the season Of the gear is Just at hand
when many who yet adhere to the old, though
not commendable. practice Of Spring prun.
ing. will be sharpening their tools for the
annual " trimming we beg leave 70 men
tion few 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 il is performed with ton rough
aud careless a hand. II is scarcely IN ore
light matter to tree TO have one of its large
branches Topped Oft, than for man to have
an arm amputated. The body Of an animal
has no redundancy, no surplus parts which
may be removed. and the main structure con.
Time just as vigorous as before. May we not
infer, therefore, from analogy. that every
part Of the vegetable is needed to preserve lis
health, and to enable il it to fulfill the designs
Of nature
All observing gardeners know that the
several parts ol tree or plant are closely
connected, and thai one portion cannot be
injured withodt at the same time injuring
others. cut OF Or mar branch, and al once
. portion o. the root feels the blow and suf-
ters from IL. So, il y0n cut uI root, the
injury is felt among the branches. Nor is
this surprising. il, as some say, the branch is
only an extension of the root, every bud a.
boye ground having corresponding bud or
tootlet below. But whether this exact bal.
ancc Of parts exists or not, there is, without
utstiou. a nice sympathy aud correspond.
ence Of growth and health between them.
\ Ii prune The top Of Tree closely for sew.
eral successive Years, ,io ID fact prune the
roots also. aud uire persa. II tree has al
abundance OF leaves, il has, aud must have,
an abundance ol ronts.
i Hence we see why we are directed TO prnne
a hedge in midsummer. il we wish to re.
strain its growth and keep it stationary.
Prnned in Spring, there Is q, loss Of foliage,
but rapid determination Of sap into the re-
naming buds. ltorestnre the balance between
root and branel.1 and hence vigorous
growth. Hence. tnn, we see why IL j. bet.
Ter % transplant small trees than larger ones.
/ The fret can be taken up with little mntila-
tion Of root aud branch, aud when agnn set
oui, they 90 on their way almost as il they
had not been disturbed. The latter cannot
be unearihed without cutting olf and nang.
ling many ui their roots, and 80 introducing
arrangement aud disease into the whole struc-
ture. Something can be done, tits true, TO.
wards restoring the equilibrium Of the parts,
BY cutting oil large nartinn Of the branch.
= at Tie time nt transplanting but this gives
the tree another severe shock il depriNes il
of large part u IL celebrating organs, aud
50. between the double abusc. il IL long time
before il recoyers--it il ever does-Irom the
severe injuries.
'rha aH.rf 40 infr,ltrsnn. ..ttas.. A.
seen in almost every orchard. How INV a
large limb IS heWn ef. and the stump, not
being properly protected lrom the elements,
decays aud brings disease intp The entire tree
The natural life Of the apple.tree,w ~ hen grow.
Ing in the field undisturbed. IS about cen.
tury of years vet IN mans of our orchards.
II seldom reaches beyond half that period.
So much Tor civilization!
4 Must We, therefore, not prune al all By
no means. ID is the heraic styIc we inveieh
against, and would have dispensed with as
suon a. possible. Moderate abd timely prun.
ing has much to recommend IL. The beauty
of tree and its fruillulness may be prpmui.
!, cd by ~, aud that with little injury TO the
trees health. Plainly. however, TO accom-.
plIsh this. the work must be begun very ear.
". and take the character uf training rather
than 81 pruning; me tTcisiOH bting done
mostly Nth thumb and finger, Or with no
more formidable instrument than Jaekkniir.
let the saw be broken, and the hatehet bu.
red.
In pruning for beauty, all that Is needful
IS to begin with the young tree, nip out any
:. cross branches that appear. pinch ofi' any
one-sided, ill.shaped shoots. and endeavor to
Keep the tree Symmetrical. Within such
general limits, let the tree develop its own
/ peculiarilics, and il will be beautiful accord.
/ ing 10 is kind. Whenever branch larger
than ones little finger must be taken %, the
wound should be covered with grafiing wax
ol shellac.
10 pruning for lruitlulness. the aim Is to
impede the perpendicular flow Of sap. and
tie tendency 10 make more wood. This is
often effected By cutting out the central
shoot, aud by favoring, in various ways,
/ horizontal growth of branches. This checks
the wood making forcc, and promotes de-
/ position Of fruit buds. This also gives the
tree q more globnlar shaped head, and 50 ex.
puscs The fruit 70 light aud aif, and improves
its appearance aud flavor.
As TO the best time Of year fqr pruning.
this may depend somewhat upon the object
we wish 10 accomplish. II We want 10 guide
the growth Of the tree into new directions,
or 60 stimulate a stuhted tree. the last Of Win.
Ter. or very early in Spring may answer.
though the best authorities prefer the Fall
or late Sumner But. to diminish rapid
growth. to promote fruit.bearing, and for