The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-03-10
Hints on the Management of Trees and
Grape Vines.
BEL AIR, Feb. 18th, 1865.
o the Editor Of the AEgis 4 Iatelligencer:

Bel AIR, Feb. 2Stb, 1865.
To the Editor Of the Agis & Hteuigencer:
DEAR SIR Having been much sur.
prlsed at the barren condition of orchards
and fruit trees in this vicinity, [ feel
prompted to ask permission to give through
your columns some brief hints upon the
management of trees and grape vines.
The first, great, and principal cause of
the failure to produce good sound fruit is
generally found to be want of proper and
Judlclous pruning. Almost every tree
and vine has been much neglected, or if
pruned at all, has been done so badly that
injury and not benefit has been the result
Another cause is the Encouragement of
the orchards as to the proper culture, after
the owners have expended much money
in buying the choice trees, vines, &C., as
to allow them to run into mass of wood
rendering them too feeble iu the fruit
buds to produce sound fruit; and, if prun.
ed at all, the pruning has been done re-
gardless of the laws of nature governing
the growth and production Of the tree or
vine.
Pruning is one of the most important
operations connected with the manage.
ment Of trees, vines, or shrubs; this knowl-
edge can onl y be acquired by long study
and careful observance of the structure
of trees and the varieties of their shapes
and characteristics, because the prun-
ing applied to one tree (aside from
the general principles on which all prun-
ing depends), must be adapted to its
particular growth and mode of bearing
its fruit 1t may, therefore, be reasona-
bly, expected, that no man is capable of
managing or pruning trees, without some
knowledge and practice of these princi-
Piles, aud without the skill aud experience
acquired by time and the assistance of
well-tralned eye, to fnreses the precise
form which tree should have, after the
dispensible branches are all removed and
without regarding the utility and necessi-
ty of light, and free circulation of air
through all parts of the tree, and without
knowledge of the labyrinth of the sap,
or the necessity of good healthy foliage,
to digest and distribute its supply of food
to the fruit and other parts of the plant.
As. soon as the branches of plants become
too thick, the leaves become dis4a led for
want of free circulation of air, to carry
off the cooperating PARTICLES of sap which
liuger until the leaves generate disease
and insects to the fruit and many parts Of
the tree
The slightest observation proves to all
the correctness of these facts as all the
perfect fruits are found on the upper and
outer branches, where they enjoy plenty
of light and free circulation of air; while
on the same tree, in dense shade, the
fruit is snail, colcrless, tasteless and
worthless. This fault is not only found
in the orchards of the careless, but in those
of the most enthusiastic lovers of fruit cul-
ture, who have spared neither money nor
pains in their efforts to produce the best
fruit. If the people would listen to these
silent but evident marks of the wants of
their trees in both culture and manage.
meut, they would never, in this climate,
be under the necessity of doing without
fruit, or going to the market and buying
poor aud wited fruit at an .extravagant
price; bit could pick them fresh from
their own trees, with all the perfectioas of
natures proudest gifts.
| only Intended to give few hints, as
word to the wise is sufficient; and |
hope that these may be profitable to this
neighborhood, and appreciated by its
people; for l am very sure that nature
has furnished here the best of climate aud
the kindest soil to give encouragement and
large profits to all who will rightly attend
to their orchards and vineyards.
Yours, respectfully,
GEORGE w. GARDNER.