Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-02-23
Winter Pruning.

THERE is one fact about orcharding that
every one should become familiar with, and
that is, fair crop of fruit cannot be raised
upon tree in which the wOod-producing
force predOminates in much excess. When
the branches put out from the center so
thick and so numerous that tree in grow
ing season resembles solid globe of green,
with branches as close that bird could
hardly pass through them, very few fruit
buds can be formed, and portion of that
few will be abortive.
The winter is the aupacious time when
young trees should be pruned and trained
in such manner as to secure in time
proper form and proper distribution of
the branches. Winter is also the best
period to retrench and correct the irregular
growth and i'll shape of trees unpruned
and neglected in former years. In winter
pruning, however, we think it safest to
cover with waterproof coating every
wound made by the amputation, measuring
one inch or more in diameter. For this
coating several materials are recommended,
and among them gum shellac and rosin,
both of which we have used. Gum shellac
dissolved in alcohol is very easy of applica-
ton, using wide mouthed bottle, and
putting on the solution with brush; but
we prefer rosin used in the same way, and
dissolved in the same mentruum, or in
| benZine. Gum shellac after some months
exposure to the weather peels off; and
when large limb has been cut away, rot
may commence before the lips of the
| wound meet and is healed over; rosin, on
| the other hand adheres to the surface of
the wound and does not crack.
1t often happens in young trees that are
fast growers, like the Tysan in pears, or
Red Astrachan in apples, there will be a
| dozen or more branches radiating from the
main stem, and within foot or so of the
| point on the trunk where branches begin,
| and which from time to time must be cut
away until only three or four remain.
Care must be taken to preserve those best
calculated to keep the growth of the tree
balanced; also not to remove too many OF
such branches at one pruning. We think
it an important rule in pruning to spare
enough branches properly distributed to
shade the trunk and center from the di
rect rays of the sun when in foliage. A
branch exposed to the summer sun for {
single season will have its epidermis 81
thoroughly hardened as to invite thu
growth of the MOSES.
1t will be found on observation that tn.
lateral branches and their ramifcations, O.
sub branches, form each year termina
bud, which is wood bud, and many othe
buds which produce fruit spars or sub
branches. From this habit it follows tina
!, a leading branch of dozen years growth
may have eight or ten colonies of frui
spurs, all of different ages. In some trees
as for example the Tysan and earl.
| Bergamot pear, these spars becom
so numerous as to cover the branche
4 toward the center of the tree, an,
seem 70 render the whole stock O
/; them abortive. The whole of such spur
! should be removed from the large branch
5 es, in the apple and pear orchard, unit
r within the distance of the third year fror
the terminal bud There are some case
: in which discretion should be exercised i
; the enforcement of this rule, as, for exam
Q pie, where the growth of tree is strag
It Cling, and fruit buds, or spurs, would hel
It to shade the large branches and protet
I; them from the rays of the sun, they shoul
# be spared.
e The ravages of the apple and pear midg
II are so great and widespread that we thin
% it the duty, as we'll as the interest, ofeveI
le orchardist, to contribute his exertion t.
in ward the destruction of those insects an
=. the crushing of them out by The muncl
a. ing of hogs pastured in the orchard durir
% the summer months, comes so strongly re
e commended by pomological societies in Il
i West, that we think it the duty of eve
orchardist who can, to lay in the stoc
N u and so arrange his fences as to give
<, hogs an opportunity of living on his d
be fective fruit Western Rurdlist