The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1864-03-23
Richmond Horticultural Association.
March II. 1864.

The minutes of the previous meeting
were read and adopted.
The subject for discussion being the
proper time and method of pruning fruit
and ornamental trees, b. STRATToN open
ed the discussion by reading the follow
ing paper on the growth of trees:
In resuming this discussion, we very
soon discovered the small amount OF
scientific knowledge, coupled with practi-
cal experience, that we were able to ad-
duce. which would either enlighten or in
struct. However, be this as it may, we
shall endeavor to give, together with
few general principles, some crude ideas
of our experience And the foundation
or stand point from which we propose to
draw our conclusions is, viz: The win
ter pruning strengthens, while summer
pruning weakens and that during the un
folding of the leaf and elongation of the
branch, the trunk of the tree does not
increase in size. With these principles
for our base, it is easy to see that great
deal depends on the operator judgement
and skill in performing the work. A
tree, vine or shrub, of very rampant
growth, may be pruned during the sum
mer months to an advantage, while one
of weak and delicate habit should not
be touched by a knife. Hence we hold
that for general pruning of trees the third
month is the best time. Were it not that
experience has shown us the sooner
wound heals the better, we would recon-
mend the fall. During the past year we
took the circumference of o small apple,
pear and cherry tree at the commence
ment Of each month, from which we con
clude we have gained some information
as regards the season when tree can
best stand the removal of its branches
by pruning / will here give the results
as regards the apple, viz: The young
tree girthed inches on the LIST day of
the 1st month; on the lst day of I'd and
Sd months, 3 inches, on the lst of the
4th 81; on the 1st of the 4th and 9th, 81;
on the lst Of the It'll, 81 on the Sth, CO;
the year it remained stationary. From
which we discover that the first indica-
tions of the enlargino of the body was
during the third month Gan increase of
one eighth of an inch). This, however,
we consider to be nothing more than the
the filling up of the pores with the vital
fluid or sap, engendered or put in motion
by the approach of Spring. During the
4th and 9Th months no increase was mani
fest. The tree was using all its energies
in extending its branches and perfecting
its leaves, (Which are its lungs but when
this was accomplished, and the leaves
ready to perform their office in elabora-
ting the sap, yielding strength and sup
port. We have an increase during the
9th month Of three fourths of an inch,
and the It'll, one fourth. From which we
come to the conclusion that during the
latter part Of the 9th month is the best
time to remove water-sprouts, and per
form other light pruning, as the rapid
growth of the body heals the wounds
very soon. Nor are we less instructed
when we recur back to the 4th and 9Th
months, and see the work designed by
nature for that period. 1t looks to us
hat we might as well sever portion of
he roots as to go to cutting and remov
ng any quantity of branches and grow
ng leaves, especially in the fore part of
he 5th month. Who ever saw perfect
crop of ripe fruit without an abundance
Of healthy foliage? In looking over the
whole ground, we are almost ready to say
that the ne plus ultra of pruning will not
be reached till we discard the looping of
the branches and adopt disbudding.
Let the tree be trained from the nursery
by pinching and disbudding. The grape,
we would say, prune at the fall of the
leaf, and in case it is neglected, then in
the I'd month. But beware of removing
much of the foliage during the perfect
ing of the crop Of fruit, nor do we believe
that any theory, however nicely it may
be written and faithfully followed, will
to attend a practised hand and discrimi-
no nj
to practically elucidate.
Raspberries, and blackbcrries, bearing
wood should be removed as soon as the
crop is gathered, thus allowing all the
to go to the young canes, which
may be cut back to about four feet in the
ID month following.
Roses and other shrubbery should have
their surplus wood removed after the
first frost that cuts the leaves in the fall,
but we would prefer leaving the last
touch of trimming till the Sd month.
He stated that many trees were much
injured by persons climbing into them
to prune them, with their boots
GRIFFITH MENpENHALL spoke about
the roots growing in the winter, but
stated that he had not made any &C
curate measurements. He mentioned
that he commenced pruning in June last
year, and that there were many water
sprouts on the trees, which were pruned
in the early part of the month. The
growth of the cherry and pear is not
exactly the same as that of the apple
b. STRArTAN said if water sprouts are
allowed to grow where a limb is cut off,
the wound will be long time in healing
over, and water-sprouts ought all to be
cut off: but we cannot prune so as
entirely to avoid water sprouts, but they
ought to be rubbed off frequently. Unless
we had experience, we could not prune
grape-vines properly, so as to have fruit
over the vine. He tried for years before
he could succeed in proportioning the
wood.
The conversation then turned on the
injury done to different trees.
KIRK MENpHNHALL said that the
Bartlett Pear trees wore much more
injured than the Buffum, though planted
side by side and headed in.
IRWIN REED thought that the trees were
not quite so much injured as some people
supposed. His ounces were not killed,
nor apparently very much injured.