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

Mr.. Dubreuil, formerly Professor Of Ar
horticulture in the Garden of Plants at
Roucn, i'll France sums up the general
principles OF pruning as follows
The theory of the pruning Of fruit trees
rests ON six general principles
The vigor Of a tree, subjected to pruning
depends, in great measure on the equal
distribution of sap in all its branches
In fruit trees abandoned to themselves
the sap is equally distributed in the differ
ent parts without any other aid than nature,
because the tree assumes the form most i'll
harmony with the natural tendency Of the
sap.
But t.iOse most submitted TO pruning, it
is different the forms imposed on them
such as espalier, pyramid, vase &c, change
more or less the normal direction Of the
sap, and prevent it from taking the form
proper to its species Thus all the forms
given to trees require the development of
ramificatiOnS more or less nmcrOuS, and Of
greater or less dimensions at the base Of
the stem And, as the sap tends by prefer
cncc to the summit Of the tree, it happens
that, unless great care be taken, the bran
chcs at the base become feeble, and finally
dry up. and the form intended TO be obtain
ed disappears, to be replaced by the natur-
al form, that is "A stem or a trunk with
branching head 1t is then indispensable,
if we wish to preserve the form we impose
upon our trees, to employ certain means,
by the aid of which the natural direction
of the sap can be changed and directed
towards the points where we wish To obtain
the most vigorous growth To do this we
nust arrest vegetation in the parts to
which the sap is carried in too great abun-
dance and on the contrary favor the parts
that do not have enough To accomplish
this the following means must be success
fully employed
J. Prunc the branches OF the most vigor-
ous parts very short, and those Of the week
parts long. We know that the sap is at
1ractcd by the leaves. The removal of a
large number of wood buds from the vigor-
ous parts dcprives these parts Of the leaves
which these huds would have produced :;
consequently the sap is attracted there in
less quantities, and the growth thereby
diminished The feeble Parts being
pruned long, present a great number
of buds, which produce a large surface of
leaves, and these attract the sap and ac-
quire vigorous growth. This principle
holds good in all trees, under whatever
form they may be conducted.
H. Leave large quantity of fruit on the
strong part and remove the whole, or
greater part, from the feeble. We know
already that the fruit has the property of
attracting to ii the sap from the roots, and
of employing il entirely to its own growth
The necessary result of this is, what we
are about to point out viz, that all the sap
which arrives in the strong parts will be
absorbed by the fruits, and the wood there.
in consequence will make but little growth:
while on the feeble part, deprived of fruits
the sap will be appropriated by the grow
ing parts, and they will increase in size and
strength.
Ill. Bend the strong parts and keep the
weak erect. The more erect the branches
and stem are the greater will be the flow
Of sap to the growing parts hence, the
feeble parts being erect, attract much more
sap than the strong parts inclined, and
consequently, make amore vigorous growth
and soon recover their balance. This rem
edy is more especially applied to espalier
trees.
". Remove from the vigorous parts the
superhuous shoots as early in the season
as pOSSlDle, anu lIOln IttDlc bdIlS dS Idtc
as possible. The fewer the number of
young shoots there are on a branch, the
fewer there are of leaves, and consequent
ly the less is the sap attracted there
Hence IN leaving the young shoots on the
feeble part, their leaves attract the sap
there, and induce rigorous growth.
Y. Pinch early the soft extremties of
the shoots on the vigorous parts, and as
late as possible on the feeble parts. excep-
ting always any shoots which may be too
vigorous for their position By thus pluck