Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-27
a ss,n',afber sournal.
WiyfER PRUNING OF fruit FREES.

>
In theory, theorists NAV differ very
widely in their opinion touching the win
Ter ufuningof fruit trees and shrubs; but
-psxtairal men usually begin this work as
soon as CONVENIENT after the holidays.
There is no use of borrowing trouble
about the frost injuring the exposed wood
where q branch has been cut off. because
\ II YOU have any fears on this score Just
cover. the wounds with little. gum shell
Lac, dissolved In alchohol, or with conf
mon paint; grating wax will also answer
sha purpess as WE'LL
. bat never prune plant jnst for the
sake Of pruning, or because somebody
has said that trees require pruning annu-
ally. The size and form OF trees may be
controlled at will by pruning. and fruit
fitness may be fastened or retarded BIZ
the same process. Vigorous growing
trees should be preserved with care and
Judgment, the operator remembering that
the more wood that is cut away the more
u rapid will be the growth the following
season; and ifa tree is already making
too much wood,no more should be allowed
than is actually necessary to bring that
which remains into proper shape.
This principle as our guide, we prune
stunted trees severely; or even sickly
branches, on an otherwise healthy tree,
may often be restored to health by the use
of the pruning knife alone. If the trees
are large and branches SO numerous rs
not to permit the light to reach the centre
81, the tree, cut out a portion, aud give all
parts an lequsl chance for development
and health. In all large old trees there
must naturally occur many exhausted
branches; and In cutting these away we
give the others an opportunity to grow;
and IL few fruit spurs are destroyed,
those remaining will be strengthened.
and the fruit produced larger and of q
better quality. Most fruit cultivators
will own. to weakness in leaving too
much bearing wood upon their trees, and
! Door, small fruit is the result.
No better time can be selected for pru-
Hing understaudingly than in winter. for
ct this season one can readily determine
the character OF each bud, spur or branch,
and shorten, remove entire, or allow any
portion to remain intact as the condition
may indicate. Apple, pear and plum
trees may be pruned far more freely than
the cherry; for this last-named tree is
rather impatient under the knife although
j u may often be pruned to advantage. We
all take far too much delight in showing
our fruit trees loaded down with o great
er burden than they can in safety carry
through to maturity; hence the necessity
Of severe pruning 10 restore vigor to ex-
hausted specimens.
Next to fruit trees, grape vines are al
lowed to overbear more than any other OF
our small fruits, and the tar too common
great promise in the early part Of the sea-
= son ends in lamentable failure. Green,
half.ripened grapes are usually more
- abundant in gardens and vineyards than
those that are well matured and failure
TO use the knife is very frequently the
cause. Gooseberries are very liable to
mildew. especially upon old, neglected
plants; severe pruning by cutting out the
old wood. thinning and shortening the
young. is usually beneficial But with va
rieties that are subject to disease, it Is bes,
to renew the stock frequently, keeping
none but young plants.
The red and white currants of our gar.
dens require more pruning than the ma
jority of persons give them; and annual
trimmings of the shoots will result in lar
ger and better fruit than if allowed to
grow in thick, dense clumps, as generally
seen in farmers gardens. The black va
rieties do better, and bear larger fruits
when grown in a miniture tree form, and
apruned accordingly. People, as a rule,
prune off the outside. just as some will be-
gin at the base of tree and prune upward
instead Of beginning at the top and prune
downward
Raspberries, blackberries and other SIM
lar fruits are improved by pruning, and
the operation may be described in the two
words, shortening and thinning.
If men would only think more while
they work and notice the effects OF certain
operations. the benefits to be derived from
judicious pruning, and we'll as when to
avoid errors. would soon be learned
Rural Neac Yorker.