The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-04-16
for the farmer.
PRUNIyG-THE BEST FORM FOE Or
CHARD TREES.

When is the best time for pruning fruit treesi
This question is asked every day during spring.
Pruning is supposed to he absolutely necessary,
and it seems to be settled conviction mat pfnn-
ing ought to be done sometime in the spring. we
cannot at this time, go i"to an elaborate and ex-
haustiye article OH the subject because that
would lead US too far, but we VIII give lew
general ideas and facts, which. if not guide to
correct pruning may keep our readers from ma
king gross mistakes
II is n commonly accepted saying of oar best
hartcultnrisis: "Prune for wood, lthai Is to IN
duce q larger growth of branchesl, IN Inc
snring and in the autumn, for fruit" Bnt let
MS for a moment consider the best form for trees:
To dc this We should study the natural form and
peculiar habits Of trees. Take for instance the
apple: Some varieties, lke.the Carolina hed
Jnnr," or the Duchess of Oldenbnrg," need very
little pruning at any time. The hrst IL very
slow grower, and, unless where branches ALSO
lntely clash and ehafe, makes very little snper-
huous wood; whil- the second does mp ITS years
work in hurry and goes TO rest; again, take
the /" Kirkbfidge White and the "Limbertwig."
The first of these has very upright habit; al
most as strong the Lombardy poplar, while
the other has a very sPready and dropping habit;
consequently, no general law for pruning can be
laid down unless we will allow very long list
of exceptions. Long years of experience has
Taught MS that, all things being equal, the pyra-
mdal form is preferable for a frnit tree. Ii is
not only the most BEAUTIFUL but the most practi-
cable. With branches equally distributed and
strong centre Stem, 1rtllt may he allowed 10 grow
on every part of the tree, insuring great load
under which the branches will drOop more OF
less, and thus allow air and sunlight To kiss
every fruit and, call firth the blush in all that
arr susceptible thereto.
Now as to pruning. II done at the proper
time, and at the hest stage of growth, all the
pruning conld be done with thumb and finger
and il is because of the first neglect that men
are obliged TO use the knife or the saw. We
must now snppose il to be necessary and there
rnra 81 hranehaS OnUht IN h.. I'D ,
First, then, one of each tive that clash perhaps
both.
In removing one, we mnst keep in our minds
eye the general ontlne, form and natural habit
of the tree. Next, all branches calculated to
throw the tree out of proper balance. Care
should also he taken that the SIDE exposed to the
northeast does not become too heavy, because
the prevailing winds of the Mississippi valley
coming from the southwest, will give the tree
an additional tendency to lean towards the north
east.
Again, trees, like the "Sorthern Spy" natnr-
ally inclined TO form many branches, must be
thinn6d in the top to admit of sunlight and air.
Standard pear trees need little or no pruning,
but il inclined TO make two and even three
growths in a season, the terminal buds Ought TO
be pinched in, so that is possible the tree will
only and well mature one growth. However,
any and every indication of blight on all pear
strees, from whatever source produced, should
instantly be removed with the knife, no matter
how much it may hurt the operator. Peach,
cherry and plum trees should be pruned as to
admit plenty of sunlight and air, and super-in-
duce the fine coloring of the fruit, and also in
such a manner that the fruit shall set on the
stronger branches and more in the centre of the
tree. This is pre-eminently requisite for peach
trees, because when large crops grown on
the wood, and on or near to the ends of the BRAN
ches, which is the natural tendency, the tree is
likely to break down. spelling the tree and caus-
ing the loss of fruit.
When branches an inch thick or larger are re-
moved, it is best to make the wound as small as
possible, with the lower lip prntruding, and
shaping the edges as nicely very sharp knife
will do il.
Ornamental and evergreen trees need little OF
no pruning except to remove u bud, which, when
developed in the branch, will throw the tree out
of balance. To this rnle the soft maple forms an
exception. The growth of this tree is so rapid
that the top must be kept under perfect control
and in proportion to the body, otherwise it will
break the tree. Always prune maple when in
full leaf.