The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-24
AGRICULTURE.


PRUNING
The subject of pruning trees and vines
of all kinds, the mode, and the time,
and the amount of pruning to be done,
is receiving much attention from pemol-
ogists. As might be expected from the
various experience or theories of OBJ
servers, and the stand point from which
they draw their conclusions, there is
much diversity of opinion, some con-
demning it altogether, and others advo-
eating the free use of the knife. These
| discrepancies are more apparent than
real, if we keep in mind the true and
ultimate object of pruning, and the
effect we wish to produce.
1t may safely be asserted as general
principle in vegetable physiology, that
all pruning ia more or less injurious to
the we'll being of the living plant.
In state of nature, or when tree
or vine is left to itself, there is a gradual
adjustment and equilibrium established
between the roots and branches. There
are roots enough to absorb and carry
mp the nutritive fluid, and there are
branches, with their leaves, enough to
work it mp and assimilate the nutrition.
When this equilibrium is disturbed,
injury, disease, or death follows. The
degree of injury will depend upon cir
cumstances, such as the mount OF
pruning, the time when it is done, and
the constitution and habits of the par
ticular plant. Some bear pruning better
than others, and in winter better than
in summer.
We may take a lesson from the man.
ner in which nature does her pruning.
It is always a sure and safe process.
Take young tree, pine, for example.
There are a number of small laterals.
As the tree grows upwards and the
trunk enlarges, the sap has tendency
to pass on to the upper portion; these
laterals begin to lose their vitality, and
at length to die ont and fall to the
ground. In the old tree there is not
even a trace left of these primary
branches, and their very scars are
obliterated.
Very different is the effect when, by
artificial means, a vigorous, healthy
limb is Topped off. The equilibrium
between roots and branches is suddenly
destroyed, and the plant receives shock
to its system, which impairs vitality to
some extent.
But in all kinds of cultivation, whether
for ornament or for fruit, we find it
better to sacrifice somewhat The health
or longevity of the plant for some other
advantage to be gained, of greater
value. We prune our fruit trees and
| grape vines to keep them within bounds
and give them shape better to resist the
effect of too hot sun, or high winds,
aud also by reducing the amount of
| woody growth. to obtain better fruit. So
also of hedges, or other atifcial shapes
we NAV desire to produce. A hedge
| is q collection of stunted, half starved
i'll conditioned individuals, but when
taken as q whole, its general effect
| (Which is the thing sought after is USE
| full or pleasing. Whatever may be the
chief object in cultivation, whether it
be the perfection of fruit or flowers, or
usefulness as hedge, or ornamental
shape, we seek that, and not the longev-
ity of the plant. If the plant could not
furnish these requisites, it would not be
worth the cultivation at all. The true
end and aim of all pruning, therefore,
| is to do Just go much of it and no more,
ss will give the best results, with the
least injury. And this must be ascer-
tanned by practical observation and ex
perience.
The above remarks are, of course, in
tended to apply to such things as are
growing and fixed permanently for life.
In transplanting it is necessary to prune.
No matter how carefully a tree may be
taken up, the roots are injured more OF
less, according to the care used.
In proper ton as the roots are lessen.
ed, 80 must we lessen the branches
Even in transplanting small things from
the nursery bed when all the roots car
be cured, it requires time for the alb
sorbing functions to commence theil
supply of fluid, and so it is best always
to pinch off q portion of the leaves, anG
thus restore the equilibrium.-H w
R0Ue,ael, in Rural Cdrolinian.
THE PRACTICAL MAN AND THE THEoRIsT
"That looks very pretty and plausi
BILE on paper" farmer Jones remarks
as he lays down his agricultural journ
nal, after reading one OF Professor
Browns we'll written articles of rotation
1 of crops. 6. 1t looks well, and I'd like
to see the professor try to carry out hi!
| ideas on the cotton plantation. I reck
on he'd find out the difference between
theory and practice" Well, suppos,
Professor Brown should attempt t.
carry out his ideas in the field, ant
should make a failure? Would tina
prove his theory false? By no means
1t takes something more than correc
theory to make a crop-good genera
management and an experimental
knowledge of the details of field
work. Perhaps farmer Jones him
self, working on the same plan
would attain the highest success
An inventor may devise a. machine
which is to -rNynlationize the industry
~ the world, yet he may not be able,
! on account of deficient mechanical skill,
to construct his machine in such a way,
that it will work. The practical man
the mechanic to his assistance,
and the work is done. So it is in every
| department.. The man of ideas has the
force to move the world, but he needs
the man OF practical common sense and
skill to help him in putting his ideas
into working shape. Farmer Jones
should not jump to any such conclusion
ao his remarks seem to indicate. Rural
| Cdrolinian,
CHOOSING AND RAISING CALVES.
In choosing heifer calves, it is best to
select from undisputed good COW also
having an eye to the possibility of it's
| becoming q good mixer, and for this
we should examine the teats and udder,
| which should alwava he of Oood eiza