Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-10
A PACIFIC PRUNING PRODIGY.

A PACIFIC PRUNING PRODIGY.
In the large and beautifully laid out grounds
of Ellwangcr Il Barry, the famous nursery
men ON Mount Hope avenue, stand about
dozen large sized California trees, (Scqaoid
gigdnted) planted by these gentlemen about
l5years ago. Some Of them are 30 feet high,
while the diameter of one or two of the
largest sized is 25 inches. 1t known that
these trees grow to an enormous size in CAL
iforna, and with proper care are success
fully grown in this section.
Last week, fellow fresh from California
who said he had had good deal OF expert
enco with the giant trees of that state, learn
ing that Ellwauger Il Barry had some fine
representative specimens in their grounds,
applied ut the Office of the Mount Hope Nur-
series for situation rs primer. Said he, 81
sec you have some big trees in your yard
from California. l am native of the Gold
en- State. know all about the nature of
trees. | notice some improvements that
might be made in the shape and looks which
will help thom nightly. came east this
spring to visit some of my mothers relations,
but not being able to find them, and being a
little short of funds, l thought | would APP
ply to you for n job. l can tell you some
thing you don't know about them big trees"
BY the time this fellow had finished his in
troductory speech, Ellwanger & Barry, who
were busily engaged in opening and reading
their orders and correspondence had thor
oughly comprehended the situation of the
California adventurer.
10, al xvha ho follnxu caiI.
can tell you something you don't know about
them big trees" However, having Il good
deal of the humorous in him, and seeing
chance for little joke, Barry said, MY
dear sir, those largo trees you refer to were
propagated in our nurseries, and transplant
cd where you now see them, Is years ago.
They were not therefore, brought from Cal
ifornia, although they are the same species
rs tho famous tree which grows there 300
feet high. We propagate trees, shrubs and
plants here in Rochester that are to be found
in all parts of the world. We have succeed
ed admirably with these giant trees which
have made your state so famous. We think
we understand all about this genus, both
here and in California, for we have seen
them growing in both places"
Eyes" said the fellow, "but don't you see
they amt shaped right 81 can prune the
trees 10 make them grow faster and look
pertier." allow do you propose to do itP"
said Barry. "They are evergreens and don't
require pruning. We sometimes clip the
ends of the lower branches, and give them
more shapeliness, but as to cutting of the
larger limbs, which | understand you pro-
pose to do, it is all folly, and we cant think Of
it." "But," said the fellow, "you don't I'M
derstand how to prune California tree.
There is n certain way of cutting the limbs,
and if you don't do it that way, the tree
won't do WELL"
Ellwanger, who had till now listened, IA
cetously remarked that there is one of the
trees in the lawn the fellow might expert
ment on if he had anything new to introduce
in the art of pruning. Now there happened
TO be one among the large trees, which suf-
fered severely by the extreme cold of two
years ago. As it was evident that the tree
must die, Ellwanger e. Barry, always on the
qfti Uive for novelties rs well as good joke,
consented to let the California primer have
n chance 10 display lis skin. Ordering n
large pruning knife, n saw, and other neces-
sary implements, Ellwanger a. Barry, with
the clerks in the office, and gardeners about
the place, who by this time had their atten-
ton attracted to the strange looking fellow,
proceeded to the tree, which stood but n few
rods from the street fence extending along
Mount Hope Avenue.
There said ono of the distinguished
nurserymen, "if you wish to show your dex-
tority or teach us something new in pruning,
you may try it on that tree. The Californian,
glad for an opportunity to distinguish him
self, and also of earning something to build
up his depleted exchoquer, stripped of his
outer clothing, which revealed n soiled shirt
and n pair of pants rath er the worse fol-
wear. Nothing daunted, however, he trip
ped up the ladder like squirrel, and in q
moment he was ut work AMONG the branches
OF the tree, cutting and slashing Mt rapid
rate. Branch after branch fell to tho ground
In the meantime the runor of the great Cal
fornia primer had quickly spread among the
immediate noighbors, who FASTENED to tho
spot.
Carriages passing along the avenue, at
tracted by the crowd gazing up into the tree
stopped in front. Ladies and gentlemen
making selections of house and garden
plants, flowers and shrubs, when they saw
what was going on, fastened to Join tn
crowd Stimulated by the presence Of 81
many spectators, the branches and bOugh
fell faster than ever CHANGING rapidly owe
the contour of the tree, the fellow, who ovi
IDENTIFY intended to give it gobular shape
began Mt the lower limbs, close to the body
gradually lengthing out as ho ascende'
higher to the middle of the tree, and agai
tapering in toward the top. lilo had nov
reached to the height of about IS feet, whe
the tree. from the numerous stiff preectn
branches which had been sawed SQUARED
of, looked rs bristling as an abattis, or In
distended quilts of a fretful pOrcupinO. dc
spising all aid OF the ladder, the fellow skin