Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-04-17
PRUNING ORCHARDS IN WINTER

Tho question is often asked, all
though becoming we'll Understood by
good orchards:s, "Whcn is the best
time to prunc-Wintcr or Summcr?'
1t is often wrongly answered. There
ar two advantages of pruning in
mid summer, or during the period Of
RAPID growth-aud these arc, check.
ing the growth of the treo when too
luxuriant, and allowing the wounds to
heal over more readily. Tho invaria-
ble tendency of pruning q tree while
growing, is to retard it's vigor. If the
amount of foliage cut away bo Slight,
tho effect will not be great; but if the
pruning be considerable or severe, a
formidable check will bo given. Sum-
mcr pruning may be adopted on thrift
ty young trees, when the object is
merely TO remove few useless or
struggling shoots, and to give symmo-
try of form. But if the portion to be
Gu. away is largo, it is better TO wait
until growth has ceased in Autumn, or
else perform the operation early in
Spring. 1t is true, tho wounds heal
over moro perfectly, for tho reason
that tho cut surface dries moro quick
ly, and Tue new lip Of wood covers it
or partly covers it at once. But this
advantage is at the expense Of growth.
In all cases where it is desired to
impart vigor, so far as this can DO
done by mere pruning, it should be
performed alter tho fall Of tho leaf,
and before the swelling of tho buds in
Spring. With quite hardy troes it
may be dono in Winter; but with
those inclinirg to be tondcr, and which
are always made moro SO by tho OK
cision of tho limbs, it should bo defer
red until early Spring. Any ono who
entertains doubtful opinion on tho
subject of Summer pruning, had bet
ter try tho experiment. Let him
prune ono row Of trees in Winter, or
early Spring, and tho next row in
juno Country Genrloman.
-.-.>-
OATS GROUND AND UNGRouND.-It is
generally admitted that there is no better
or more natural grain for the horse ,thsn
oats, and they are extensively ed-throh gh-
out the whole co untry, and usuaIIyrin an
unground state. The reason Of this is
probably owing to the fact that but lit
lie trouble is required to feed them So.
Yet every one knowe hat oats given whole
particularly to an aged ANIMAL, pass
through in large quantities. undigsssd,
giving no nu!riment to the body. Then
that portion Of the grain unnasticate,i
has done no good, and some loss attending
it. We must therefore conclude that a,
least one third less grain given in ground
state would do as much or more good. il
: The experiments Of some of our . Best
chemical pbysiologist 60 to- show that
mixing of saliva wifi the food is Of the
utmost Importance in sffeoting easy diges-
ton. When grain goes into the stomach
in whole state, it is not affected BY the
secretions IS then made at the ,sxpense Of
the animals condition. Then, il oata, by
passing through the digestlys IsMs ofia
uudigested, injure the animal, 1T ia not
natural to suppose that he Gould perform
more Labor with less grain when he, gets
all Of the nutriment from the quantity fedi
A. span Of horses that require. twelve
quarts each Of unground oats per day,
would consume hundred and eighty.
two bushels nsiing it at one third
|less, would make asaving Of ninsty-one
Bushels; and at sixty Eve cents per bushel
would amonut, 10 cash to about siztys DOL
ars for tho trouble Of grinding: ,'.i'
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