Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-17
The Best Time to Extermiuate Bush.


A correspondent ofthc New York
Herald says:
Having been brought up on a
farm l used to hear much SAID by
farmers in regard to the best time
for cutting bushes, etc., and remem-
Der well the many uncertainties
that existed and the various opin-
ions given on the subject. Some
recommended to cut at one season,
some at another; some regarded the
''moon," others the "signs," etc. L
also remember that the same kind
of under brush, if cut at one season
would start again and grow luxuri-
antly, but if cut at another would
be completely used up. I have also,
within the last few years had oppor-
tunity to notice the same facts; and
the conclusion to which we have ar
rived is, that different shrubs or
bushes, trees, etc, may be cut at
different seasons of the year. Some
are killed as early as the first of
August; and so on till October or
even November. The rule is this:
Cut any plant or shrub about the
time it has done growing for the
season, and its destruction is al
most certain. II cut before this it
will generally start again the next
year. The exceptions are few, So
much for the facts, now for the the
DRY. First, in the spring ofthc year
all roots are vigorous; hence, if a
tree or shrub be cut at this time, or
while in full growth, the root will
send forth a new set Of shoots. The
exceptions arc-first evergreens
generally, as pine, spruce and hem
lock, etc. Second, those that have
a copious supply ofsap in the spring
as the maple, birch, etc. Yet even
some of these will start again if cut
soon after the buds have opened;
that is, after the flow Of sap has
ceased, except in the case of old
trees, in which the old root appears
not sufficiently vigorous, or the cvap-
Grafton from the new stump too rap
id to allow the formation Of new
shoots. Third, in autumn when a
tree or shrub has done growing for
the season, the active energies Of
the roots cease, being perhaps some
what exhausted by its summer &C.
ton. If, then, the bush or tree be
cut, after it has done growing, but
while the stem and leaves are fresh
and full of sap, the vital force Of
the root will rarely be sufficient to
cause a new growth; but if left till
the foliage is dead or dying, the en-
crgics Of the root are restored by
the return of the sap and arc ready
for action again as soon rs the sea
son of growth shall return. Hence
too early or too late cutting will be
alike unsuccessful. Cut your under
brush, then, at the time above spec
flied, and it will rarely start again.
If it does the growth will appear
stunted or sickly, and soon die of
us accord, OF second culllnS 1T
the proper time will insure success.
The same rule applies to all plants,
as Canada thistles, milk weeds, etc,
with greater or less certainty, &C
cording to the greater or less vital
force or tenacity of life peculiar to
the root of each kind of vegetable.
The "proper time" can easily be de-
tcrmined by observing whether new
leaves appear at the end of the
prominent branches. If deferred
long beyond this time, or till the
leaves begin to turn yellow or fall,
cutting will be of little use, as the
new root will be "strong" for a new
start on the opening ola new spring.
-FIyu,er's journal,