Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-02-02

We prune trees and plantS for
various purposes: to encourage
branching, and to render stem and
branches stronger; to remove
branches that cross and abrade
others, and to promote fruitfulness.
Most of these ends can be attained
by pruning during the suspension
Of growing. During the Wi6tsS,
farmers and horticulturists have
more leisure to attend to pruning
than in the season Of growth, and
whatever can be done to as good
advantage at this time should not
be put off to the time when work is
constantly driving. Whenever the
weather will permit, the tree and
plant grower should be in his
orchard, garden or ornamental
grounds, with fine saw and large
pruning-knife in hand, and his juAg.
mcnt in active exercise; attending
TO the work of pruning.
We would recommend attending
to the hard GOOD trees and Shrubs
such as apples, pears, and most
Of the ornamentals-in the earlier
part of Winter, and the softer and
more porous wooded Such as
peaches, grapes, raspberries and
blackberries, the latter part. he
reason for observing this eIder is
because when any very severe
weather follows pruning tle porous
wooded, the frost is liable to pene.
trate the exposed pores, and freeze
the extremities, making q second
pruning in the Spring necessary to
remove the dead wood.
We will briefly uotice the differ
ent objects for which We prune:
l. Pruning to encourage branch.
ing, and to render stem and branches
stronger. Whoever has observed
the habits Of vegetable growth is
aware that the sap has natural
tendency to flow into the terminal
buds, causing the stem and branches
to increase in length rather than in
diameter. This tendency is very
useful in our forests, whore the
growth of timber is the main end,
The trees stretch upwards to a
great altitude, the laterals are weak
die and drop off, and we have
great, clean trunk for lumber.
Our fruit trees we wish to keep
nearer the earth, that the fruit may
be gathered with faeility, and the
portion which falls to the ground
may not be destroyed. WI find
that if we cut off the top Of a tree
one year old, it causes the stem te
throw out branches, and form a tor
nearer the ground than it would i
left to itself. But those branches
if allowed to have their own way
will make a top too hHh spreading
and open for convenience. If VIZ
"shorten them in" they will throw
out branches, grow stronger, ant
form a more compact head.
& Pruning to shape the top. II
a state ofnature, trees havo a ten
dency to grow symmetrical, bu
under cultivation, from variou!
causes, some branches will grow
out of proportion to Others, and thu
pruning-knife is needed to give
form to the tree,
3. Pruning to remove superfuou:
and decaying wood. Trees are
quite apt-cspecially on rich soil:
to grow water sprouts, and throw
out too many laterals, forming a tot
so thick as to shade much Of tn,
fruit, diminishing ats color, ant
injuring its quality. 1t is yer.
difficulty getting around in the tot
Of such trees to gather the fruit. A
great portion of the pruner's worl
consists in thinning out such tops
and removing decaying branches
always existing to some esstasst
Tiis is especially true in old bear
ing orchards, and should be attend
ed to annually, to-avoid the neces
sity of removing large branches, al
operation alwsye prejudieial t
the health of the tree But ever
where the top is not too thick, i
often happens that limbs cross an(
rest upon others, chafing and wear
ing them aWay. &A
4. Pruning to promote fruitful
ness. Winter pruning does no
promote the formation Of fruit-buds
but by reducing the namber al
ready formed, it has Tendency t.
increase the size, end improve thu
quality of the remainder. If a por
ton Of the fruit-buds dependcn
upon a limited area for nutrition
be removed, it is obyj>us ti.at thu
remaining will grog larger ant
fairer. 1t is with this view mainl,
that we cut back grape vines, ant
the canes of raspberrics and black
berries in SPRING; as the fruit tina
would set on the laterals that woult
grow out of nearly every bud of thu
long, branching vines and canes
would be too numerous for theil
roots to. develop into fair-sizet
fruit.
y Experience has taught the markc
fruit-grower the Importance o
producing large, high-colorcd, hand
some fruit, and if he is obliged t.
sacrifice something in quantity t.
grow such, he finds that it pays il
the end.
Another object to be attained il
pruning vines and canes, is to KEEP
them within such bounds that they
can be managed-tied to stakes, and
the fruit kept from the ground.
Roses and many other Towering
shrubs, bloom more freely if judici
ously, pruned. = American Rsssa
Home.
\ a Frozen House Plants.
Winter usually brings with it the