Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-04-17
Orchard Pruning

agree upon decision OF the question. wba,
srason is the beet for pruning apple trees.
Perhaps the majority prefer I'll" month Of
June. We think the time is Of little con
sequence provided !, lies between the time
When the leavcs fall in autumn and the mid
die OF July. IL is well known fact that
bushes cut in the latter part of August are
much more likely to de than when cut at
any other season. The reason is that The
sap cannot be properly ripencd without the
leaves, and the consequence is the root win
ter kills. This teaches US that hard pruning
OF apple trees in August must be dangerous.
We never knew any harm to result iiom
trimming trees in March and April, and for
many seasons We prefer March and April TO
june for pruning.
One advantage in selecting June for
pruning trees is found in the Tact that suck.
ers are less liable to start near where the
branches a.e cut, than when pruned earlier
in the season. These suckers are in injury
TO the tree. and whenever they spring out
they ought to removed BY rubbing or break
ing them Off by the hand before the wood
becomes hardened
How To FRuxE TREES. Begin when
they are small. aud With such foresight as
is the result OF careful study OF vegetable
physiology, 90 shape the tce that il may
never need any implement except poke,
knife. Where this has been neglected, and
l.
branches. begin by cutting on, all suckers.
and next remove the branches and ,wiys
which are SO located as TO be most shaded
from the sun. This is following The inlica-
lions OF nature. In forests and in orchards
the branches of trees which become shaded
so that The direct rnys Of the sun 10 not
reach the leaves, are constantly diving and
falling of. The orchsrdist WHO can fore
see ~bst branches nature will eventually
remove in this way. and assist b.r by has.
tening the process. will much incrcase the
profits Of an orchard by praning; hut prun-
ing Tor the mere purpose OF diminishing
The foliage upon any other principle than
thr one we just described. bad better bee let
alone The orchaIdist while pruning
should have an ideal of a future tree man.
ped out III his imagination, and direct all
his movements in view of tins IDEAL tree.
When nature prunes by first killing the
soprrfiuous or most shaded branches, The
slow decay OF Tie dad limb makes an ugly
knot in the tree. The artificial primer can
DO what nature canDot do, except ia those
cases where branches are wrenchcd of law
winds. or spill, of by ice. or overloada OF
hun. He can and should. cut the branch
as closely TO the stock AS possible, SO that
nature can cover the wound with the least
possible delay.
How MUCH TO PRCNE TREES. Some OF
the readers OF the Chronicle expect OF us
some suggestions about the extent TO whi.h
apple trees may be advantageously pruned.
Let II be remembered that trees may be
pruned too much. The same general law,
prevail alike IN animal and vegetable pl,, II.
ology. In animal economy the material for
the growth. aud the supply of constant waste,
Is takeG up by system OF eapillaries from
NN~ 800 pace W stst TOE fnAtet lliS
IN the stomach. The vital fluid gather ed
from the stomach to sustain lie. must be
oxygenated by the lungs absoI 5ing the
oxygen from the air. II IRON defect the
lungs become inadc quaie TO the supp!y.
disease and ultimate death must follow. So
IN the vegetable world. The soil IS the
stomach for the supply OF the plani-food and
the leaves are the lungs by Fans Of which,
the sap is maturrd by What is drawn from
the AFR. III iLIs theory is correct, pruning
10 an excess thar will remove TOO many
leaves or too much OF the lungs offhe plant.
must viiiaie the sap and expose the tree 10
disease and premature decay. A careful
observer can tell by the color OF the hai
when tree has been too closely prun.J
Trees IN itch soil where the roots take nm
nuiriment rapidly and in great quantity
are exposed to more danger from too had
pruning than those on poorer soil In !,
seldom that tree can be so pruneJ a, IN
remove more Than halt its foliage IN on.
year. without serious injury or ultimal,
death.
IREArMEST or WOUNDS MADE ny PnrN
mo TREEs. Much has been written upon
The treatment OF wounds made Nv pruning
trees. Many contend that AT least wb.r,
large branches ATE removed. the wound
ought TO be covered with wax or paint.
We regard this. not only as useless. bnt =.
worse than useless. Painted or not paint.
ed The surface Of the cut wood will die. and
At may as we'll rot away. as not. We prefer
That should shrink and rot. as ia that case
there IS less obstruction in the way Of heal.
ing over The wound. The idea that main,