Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-08
Sarm aud Aonsehuld.
PruninR.

! The New York Independent says
/ At the New York Fruit-growers' Club
March 18th, the above subject came up
for discussion; and We give few eX,
tracts from the paper of Mr. Fuller
"There are people who profess to believe
that plants seldom il ever require prun-
ing, and that nature is capable of taking
care of her works without the assistance
of man. l need not attempt to review
all the theories advanced on both sides
of the question; but will merely refer
the advocates of the non pruning theory
to the fact that all of the most successful
horticulturists in all countries believe in
and practice pruning. | may ask,
further, who is it that most frequently
applies the pruning knife TO his plants,
the novice or the experienced nursery
man? and who has the greatest success.
The amateur purchases trees and plants
placing more value upon size than quail
ity; therefore he tries To keep all that
he has received, and not branch or
root must be trimmed of, but the plants
are placed i'll the soil just rs they are,
and, no matter how carefully this oper-
alton is performed, the chances are
greatly in favor of their dying, simply
because few branches too many were
allowed to remain.
Certain theorists have told us that the
buds and leaves were necessary to pro-
duce or to cali into action the vital
forces of plant, consequently many
buds and leaves are better than ii few;
but they seem to overlook the fact that
each leaf requires sustenance, which
must be obtained through the roots,
and If there is u greater demand upon
these organs than they are capable of
supplying then the whole structure must
suffer, if not perish. For instance, ifI
we remove plant from the soil in
which 1T is grown, a portion of the roots
are destroyed or disturbed; and a por-
tion of the branches should be removed,
for the purpose oil. equaliZiug the de-
mand and supply of sustenance. 1t is !
always best, ut the start, to give the
roots the advantage; therefore, when
trees and shrubs, a severe I
pruning of the top is very beneficial.
Plants that remain undisturbed in |
the soil are pruned for other purposes. |
Sometimes it is to give them a particu-
lar form, or to make them produce fruit
Or vigorous growth A tree may be
pruned in such a manner that il will
forever prevent it producing fruit; or,
by contrary system, compel i, to bear
more often the result of not pruning
enough than too much. This is par
the case with all trees that Il
produce the larger portion of their fruit
On the young wood, like the peach and
grape There can be no general rule
given for pruning, because each family
,r species of plants require a different
treatment. Some bear their fruit on
small side-shOOts or spurs, while on
others 1T Is produced on young wood
The same is true with ornamental
plants. One species will give us no
lowers except on the young growth,
while another produces them on the old
wood; and, should the ends of each
branch be trimmed off in autumn or
pring, not a flower would ever be seen
lpon them. Pruning is one of the most
operations connected with
horticulture; and it Cali he made benefi-
ial or injurious according to tie man
ler in which it is performed. l 4.
WIN. y. CARPENIER.-Mr Fuller, and
ther practical men, may preach this
doctrine OF pruning, and a few will fol-
ow them; but the masses will neglect
t, to their own cost Every man who t55
las. had experience knows the value of
running; but the novice usually waits
rom year to year, hoping to escape fail I
re Through his neglect, hut it usually I
vertakes hin0 Trs-s : ET
ID. e EBRUEN.-I bave had some expe-
fence in growing the currant, and find I
nat can get larger and better fruit
y growing them to single stems- n
v hen the suckers are allowed to grow
be centers of the bushes are shaded too
luch, and the air does aas circulate 7
hrough them. sIt! NGE ZLt tQU
Mr.. CARPENTER.-fh tree form, or c.
ngle stem, may do .iu some localities; y
ut usually the currant will succeed a
est when grown in the form of a bush, g
18th several stems starting from thet
y Ill Aft.a [. -