The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-11-05
TI,e Farmers, department.

PRUNING Fruit TREES -Thisis is sub
ject, says an exchange, about which there is
much controversy; aud thousands of vaiu-
able trees, in nearly every part ofthe ULi-
ted States. have been ruined by applying
the knife improperly. Persons in the
rural districts have been led 70 believe in
spring pruning. ltincraut chariataus
have, from time to time, traversed the
country at that season, looping off huge
limbs without number, leaving the GRIP
pied trunks to eke out miserable exist
ence, and finally to dwindle and perish,
10 the great satisfaction of those who loathc
the sight of a mu5ilated orchard. Soon
after the branches are .hus severed, what
are known as weather-cIacks" appear In
the newly cut wood and water penetrates
as far as the original nodes from which
the lost branches sprung, where rotten nu-
elei are soou formed near the heart o.. the
tree, and not unfrequently extend their
deadly effects several ieet above the wound
cd parts. Innumerable adventitious shoots,
} better known as "water sprouts" are pro-
duced near the decaying wood, that the
superabuudant sap, otherwise provided
for the lost branches, may circulate. The
"water-sprouts" bear no fruit. In time,
they rob the old fruit-bearing limbs of
nnurishment; aud the worthless, crippled,
9P! JO'~rnhio?t is cut down as a cumbe--
IL I'M 1a1lsaI-- Sax ~
now. S there are but two ways and times
for pruning fruit trees. Vine pruning Is
IA very different thing. If L wish to cut
back he shoots of young trees to make
1
The tops bushv, or rather low and dense, or
any other shape that may be desired, the
cutting is done just before, or at the time,
the buds are bursting in spring. All head
ing-iu to form properly shaped tops on
Young trees should be done about the first
OF April, when the ascending sap will find
ven; by pushing a number Of eyes which
otherwise might remain dormant, But
this will not apply when the knife is used
on any other than last years growth. The
buds on healthy shoots two years old will
generally push near the top where part
has been cut away, but cannot be relied
on when nearly all are required to fill open
spaces and form dense symmetrical top.
The cutting of large branches from bear
ing trees should be avoided as much as
possible Nature generally sends the
shoots where they are needed, and seldom
where they will do Injury. A branch
should never be topped because it hangs
too low; all such being of great value TO
trees in open grounds, for the purpose of
shading the trunk, where the unbrokeD
rays of July sun will do more mischief
than hard winters, borers and all other del
eterious causes, combined. And when a
branch appears to crowd the top, if it is
cut away, an unsightly opening will be
obvious at once The saw and chise are
used by far too much. y common clasp
knife is all that is necessary for ordinary
pruning But there are cases where the
saw may be used TO advantage when two
limbs interfere so that both will be iU-
jured if one is not cut away, and when a
branch is broken by high winds or other
wise. All such pruning should be done
Ia the month Of July, when more sap is
in the top of the tree that at any other Pc
riod.
The descending sap from August till No
vember forms the annular ring of new
wood, and In it permanent ducts fer the
passage of ascending sap the succeeding
spring. Ii we cut away one-Ealt the top
of any tree while the sap is down, double
the usual amount will fad its way into
the remaining branches, thus crowding
the ducts so as to lorce wa:er-sprouts,
much in the nature of leaks sprung into
the embankment of an overcharged reser-
voir. But this may be avoided by cut
ting the limbs while the sap is up. Sew
er limb 10 July, and part of the descend
ing sap will moisten the wound, even
keeping it as green wood, lmost to the
very edge of the cut while the remaining
portions will form a calius around the in
jured part, with proper ducts, through
which the sap will ascend ext spring as
regularly aud healthfuIly as though no
branch had ever been there The cut
will soon heal over, and the tree remain
as sound az if no amputatiou had taken
place.