Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1867-07-09
SEXES ssE Vol. IS, NO. 5.
TO ORCHARD MEN /;
Time, Method and Object Of Pruning
Fruit Trees.

! We lately contributed the follow
ing to the Wisconsin Farmer, iron
which paper it is copied
| EDIIoss WIS. FARMER:-Muob ba
been written upon the Time. manne
and object of pruning fruit trees
shall only treat of the time-porhap,
add a word as to manner and purpos,
Of pruning. The books generally, in
deed all so far as | know, recommend
spring rs the time for pruning; some
OF them give late spring. But the
books were all written for east south
and middle country. A late autbor
DR.. Warder, of Ohio, slightly varies
and seems to recommend May prun,
ing.
Alter an experience of several YRS
among thousands of fruit trees. which
| might offer to exhibit upon a wager
in I. contest for superiority in the
northwest, | recommend the month
OF July for pruning all the apple kinds
except the wild crab, which perfects
It's growth in June, and should there.
fore be pruned that MONTH think
about the goth. This is assuming that
all trees, of whatever kind, should be
pruncd at or about the close oftheir
hrst growing stage, the time Of course
varying with the different kinds
And such is precisely my assumption.
Forest trees complete their annual
growth early in July, and the apple
by the 18th to the Goth ofJuly.
Were to undertake the fxine of
an exact time for manipulating the
the branches of trees, should fix II
by an examination OF that new meatv
substance lying between the old wood
and bark, which, at the close Of the
growing stage, is formed from the flu,
I'd lately used in making the new
branches and leaves. When sucn sub.
stance changes from a fluid to a sens
lsolid, and is found the thickness of a
knife blade, appearing as a layer Of
tender flesh, the tree is then in per
feet condition for pruning. At this
tune you may strip the old coat of
bark entire from any tree. Con an CIV,
ening or cloudy day, and new bark
will at once form, which soon becomes
as perfect as the old, and of a green
and beautiful quality.
| do not know that any particular
good or bad result follows such pro
cess, except that the flow of sap is
checked at once and new bark and
system has to form before
any growth Of bark or wood is resum.
ed. am of opinion, however. that
fruit buds are soon thereafter prepar-
ed for the next bearing, or at least
trees so treated are encouraged to
bear, samo as by any interference with
limb and root. | have not SO largely
in this direction as in
some others, but hope the subject will
DC taken up by others and carried fur
Their. 1t should be carried into the
succeeding stage when the tree is ful> |
y preparation winter Information. at
which exact time any tree must no |
ioubt be killed on the spot by even n |
small amount of breaking or outline
IF limb. Any amount of pruning at |
he time l have noted seems not the |
east hurtful to fruit trees. You NAV
cut away Il fourth or thrce-fourths Of |
,he wood from the apple tree, and. so
soon rs the effect of the shock is over
Inc tree sets about growing aud max,
ng up for the loss-throwing out bet,
,er limbs than before, and generally
n such direction as to improve the
balance Of head. The vitality for the
season is however, very soon
'pent, and the tree must stop grow.
ng till another year.
equilibrium between top and root BY |
cutting away any excess Of top, and
to compel tree toripen its wood ear
ly in the fall, SO as to insure perfect |
winter Information.
TO the last named | offer few
words:-You may arrest the growth
of trees at any time by heading or
cutting away part of the tops but
there would seem to be no use in dos
ing so at the first growth which clio
scs in July Us stated. But the OBJ
iect is well attained by July prun~
ing, because the less top tree
has and the less wood, the sooner can
the root supply the fluids required, to
riren wood for the current year. In
briei, tree does its growing the
sooner, the less OF it there is to do
Consequently, you prepare tree for
the ensuing winter by doing that
which ripens its wood early and suf-
ficiently we'll to endure the next first
freezing-if the first, then all, ofwhat-
ever extreme degree of cold. Prun-
ing tree leaves wood to ripen within
the same time consequently, the
roots are able to do up their work in
less time.
/ have experimental but one year
upon but few trees in cutting or prun-
ing the roots-hence, can affirm moth
ing from experience in that direction.
Wore my experience to run through
several years with like results as for
that one year, / should say that the
effects Of root pruning reindced very
similar to top pruning. In that year
the tops of trees, which root prun'
ed by running the spade into the
ground about circle of say five t.
ten feet diameter, very soon thereaf'
ter matured their wood for winter
same as if top pruned. am told o
have read that the tip ends of root
that have been pruned, immediatel.
thereafter take to throwing out lat
erals by the score or fifty, so that tn
following year the same set OF roots
are able to greatly more than max
up the loss Of wood and roots OF th
; preceding year. lfsuch be the cas-
and if root pruned trees are not Owe
! common disposed to late fall growing
:. it would seem that the same emf
may be reached by root pruning
@ by top pruning.
Confined on Second page.)
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