Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-11-14
Pruning Fruit Trees.

The following principles by a CORES
pondent of the G~ardoaer's MqQ0&,De are tc
the point, except that in the West fruit
trees do not require SO rl"ch pruning as
they do in the less srnny cline Of En-
gland. The writer says:
II is only those who still 90 on in the
old track who have to do much winter
pruning. because a more extended knowl.
edge of pomology has taught US how erro-
ncous were some of the methods adopted
by our forefatbers, especially the neglect
Of summer pruning. Indeed, ii is only
within a few years that any real advance
has been made, for | can rcCollect several
instances where summer pruning was
hardly ever thought of and even when it
was practiced, it was done more for the
sake of neatness than for increasing the
%fruitfulness OF the trees. Il is necessary
that this should be explained, because
there are still those who look upon the old
ideas Of winter pruning as the acme Of
perfection. But | want to dispel at Once
and forever the prevalent idea that all
pruning OF fruit trees should be left until
the winter. This Is especially necessary,
because Of the many improved forms Of
training fruit trees that are now practiced.
In days gone by, when the pyramid, the
Gordon and bush forms were unknown and
none but trees OF a large size grown, il
was not SO necessary to practice summer
pruning but with these smaller
forms OF trees il must be iudiCiousiy
practlced, or the results obtained will be
far from satisfactory. If these trees are
allowed to run wild, the energies Of the
roots viii be taken up in the production
Of fruit buds, and the maturing of the
fruit, ] am no advocate Of pinching. in
cessantlg through the summer, for that
extreme is as bad as not stopping al all;
but there Is a medium course which any
one may work out with advantage. il 70.
quires a certain amount Of knowledge and
observation TO do it properly, because in
dealing with any number of trees there Is
sure 10 be sOlne weak, ON vigorous, and
others moderately 80, and all these re-
quire separate treatment. The weak
trees must only be slightly p-gned, but
the vigorous Ones must have Il few Of the
main leaders left TO take mp The ascending
sap, aad prevent the buda on the shoots
cut back starting into growth and pro.
ducing useless wood, The moderate grow.
ers may have every young shoot cut back
to q spur Of about three buds. but in
every case the leading shoot 10 every m
portant branch Of the tree must remain
untouched at the first summer pruning,
(which should take place about the third
week in July. and not be cut back until
the last Of August. Those left on the
vigorous trees should not De cut back at
all unit the winter.
II will thus be seen that when dealing
with these forms Of trees in the only way
they can be dealt with . make them
fruitful, there is really but a very little
winter pruning required, with the excep'
ton Of removing here and there q mis-
placed or faulty spur. ] am sorry 70 say
that there are those who 10 not trouble
themselves 10 understand the details
necessary for the successful cultivation Of
these t,rms Of trees, and | am quite salts
fed there is more 70 be done with them
than has ever yei been accomplished in
our gardens, All ether things being