The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-11
r.,,arn,ng Appie-Trees.

We found in our experience, which
has heen considerable, that to remove
larre limbs, and several OF them a, az, a
time is injurious to the tree. Inc
shocl seems for a while to check the
growtb: this for more than year. ana
some fatal eases may be attributed
70 this One. or at least two large
i;m.s at a time is usually sufficient
depending upon the size OF the tree,
~ mon the number of its large
branches We have had the very
h.st succ.ss in reducing gradually
overgrown top of tree, or whero
Secay had effected the large limbs,
a. is the case with the Spitzenourgs'
taking two or four years to remove
the cankered or crowded large liihps'
s+ortino new ones in place OF the
deceased old ones where needed.
The time for doing this is,of course
not in summer, when the tree is ID
fnlI Growth. as the shock Will be all
the Greater. 1t is, however, the time
40 free the tree Of small unnecessary
Iimbs and shoots, the latter IN their
tender state may be rubbed on
,nd that is decidedly the way TO 90
il as the work is easy, and the furth,
or loss of wood growth is arrested
the remainder of the tree anu the
fruit getting it. Removing these
small Shoots and limbs will not visl-
blv iniure the tree; will divert the
san in,o those parts of the tree where
tits wanted; and the wood w'li more
readily heal over. >,
Wether large limbs are removed
in the fall. winter, or spring is not
vorv material. Mr.. Thomas, than
whom there is no better authority, says
IN his Fruit Culturist," that the
time for removing large limbs should
be deferred till towards spring Inc
reasonist thai the tree receives shock
70 = certain extent even in the winter
as growth is not entirely suspended;
and the cold superadded makes the
tree suffer still more. Hence, when
the severity of the season lessons, as
II does towards spring and other eau
COS seem 10 operate, is the time to re-
move large limbs, or do the most eS'
tensive pruning at a time. Maren
with us is q good time. but
strong. hardy tree may be pruned at
any time during winter or late iall.
If yeur tree is very thrifty and large,
with a tendency to grow wood rath-
er than fruit, trim in the fall.-i ou
NAV remove the large branches then.
and the small ones in summer.-We
have practiced this, and always with
satisfaction.
Pruning apple-trees is an art, and 1t
!. the main thing in the prosperity OF
q tree. Attendance to the roots
that is the SOILS of Importance,
sometimes the greatest; but of great
er importance we deem attention 10
the top. We speak not only from ex-
perience. but the most gratifying eN-
nerience. We have taken orchards
in hand that were thought ruined,
most of the limbs dead or in a state
of decay. and by gradual, careful
course of pruning, starting new
shoots in the place of old ones where
needed. have renewed the trees ard
have made them surpass their Tor
ner state. There is chance with
old tress-which is of the greatest
importancc-to give spread or out
ward extension TO the limbs. ms
cannot be too strongly insisted upon
You must have the sun and AIR ana
free ventilation of the whole tree IL
perfect fruit and the largest amount
is to be realized also the best growth.
Spread. therefore, the top, so that
each large branch is DISTINCT small
tree by itself, as it were-giving
chance for light and air between
But each branch itself wants to be
,hinued out. the whole well aired and
exposed TO the skyey influences;
Then every fruit will be colored and
ma,ured; limbs will be healthy, or
healthier than if not thus treated
Sometimes. however, II is dlihcuit TO
prevent tree, by pruning, from 60
ing to decay. This without the in
;ervention of the borer or any visible
disease. In such ease we have
known the cause to be q hard, imper-
vious soil-too much water present
at times or habitually. The remedy
here is ditching Then the pruning
will be UticG Herald.