Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-26

to that point is checked, and naturally
turns to the growing parts that have not
been pinched !; this remedy is applicable to
trees in all forms.
VI Lay in the strong shoots on the trell-
is early, and leave the feeble parts loose as
long as possible. Laying in the strong
parts obstructs the circulation of the sap in
them, and consequently favors the weak
parts that are loose This is only appli-
cable to espaliers.
l. In espalier trees, giving the feeble
parts the benefit of the light, and confin-
ing the strong parts more in the shade,
restores balance, for light is the agent
which enables leaves to perform their func
tions and their action on the roots, and the
parts receiving the greater proportion of
it acquire the most vigorous develop
ment
2. The sap acts with greater force and
produces more vigorous growth on branch
or shoot pruned short than one pruned long
This is easily explained The sap acting
on two buds must evidently produce a
greater development of wood on them
than if it were divided between twenty
buds.
1t follows from this, that if we wish to
obtain wood branches we prune short, for
vigorous shoots produce few fruit buds
On the contrary if we wish to obtain fruit
branches we prune long, because the most
tender or feeble shoots are the most dis
posed to fruit.
Another application of this principle is
to prune short for year or two such trees
or parts as have become enfeebled by over
bearing (This principle deserves particu-
lar attention as its application is Of great
impOrtance.)
! 3. The sap tending always to the extrem-
! tiles of the shoots cause the terminal bud
! to push with greater vigor than the later
ais. According to this principle, when we
wish prolongment of a stem or branch,we
/ should prune to vigorous wood bud, and
, leave no production that can interfere with
/ the action of Sap on it.
/ f. The more sap is obstructed in its Cir
culation the more likely it is to produce
| fruit buds. This principle is founded on
( the fact to which we have already had
occasion to refer, viz.,-that the sap circu-
lating slowly is subjected to a more com
plete celebrating in the tissues of the tree,
and becomes better adapted to the forma-
tion Of fruit buds.
lDlS pIllClplc Cali DC dppllcu W plOuuCc
/ the following result: When we wish to
produce fruit buds on a branch we prevent
a free circulation of the sap by bending
the branches, or by making annual or circu-
lar incisions on it &; and on the contrary,
when we wish to change fruit branch in
to a wood branch we give it a vertical posi-
tion or prune it to two or three buds, on
| which we concentrate the action of the sap
and thus induce their vi igorous development.
D. Leaves serve to prepare the sap alb
sorbed by the roots for the nourishment OF
the tree, and aid the formation of buds on
the shoots All trees, therefore, deprived
of their leaves are liable to perish. This
principle shows how dangerous it is to re-
move large quantity of leaves from trees,
under the pretcxt of aiding the growth or
ripening of fruits for the leaves are nour-
ishing organs, and the tree deprived Of
them cannot continue to grow, neither can
the fruit and the branches so stripped
will have feeble, Informed buds, which WILL
the following year, produce weak and
sickly growth.
Where the buds of any shoot or branch
do not develop before the age Of two years
they can only be forced into activity by
very close pruning, and in some cases, as
the peach, this even will often fail. This
last principle shows the Importance Of
pruning the main branches Of espaliers
particularly, so as to ensure the develop
mcnt of the buds Of their successive sec
tions, and to preserve well the side shoots
thus produced, for without this, the inter
ior Of the tree will become naked and I'M
productive, and a remedy will be difficult.
If these principles and practices of prun-
ing be carefully studied in connection with
the habits Of growth and bearing of the
different fruit trees, pruning will be COM
paratively an easy matter. The mode of
obtaining any particular form or character
cannot fail to be perfectly plain and simple
yet no one need hope to accomplish in all
things, the precise result aimed at, for even
the most skilfull operator is sometimes dis
appointed but those who give constant
attention to their trees will always discover
Il failure i'll time to apply a remedy.-JioS$.
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