Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-09-07
agricultural,
Pruning Trees and ZINES.

Ii Is common saving among practical
horticulturists. that the best time TO prune
q plant Is when such an operation Is dis
covered 10 he necessary. and man has u
sharp knife in his pocket. This should
not. however. Doe considered as literally
true. although volumes Of nonsense have
been written in regard 20 particular days
or months In which certain kind, of plants
should berrUuel. lt l. not well 20 pruue
vines or trees inst az the time the sap
be-ins TO flow the mos; rapidly in Spring,
because it Is likely 10 issue from the
wounds. discoloriu. thc bark below, and
making the plants look Uu>i-htiy, even It
no further injury follows. But If trees
or vines are prunej early enough TO iu-
sure a good froSting OF the wounds for a
few nights before the sap begins TO flow,
there will be little danger Of what Is
usually termed bleeding. In many North
ern localities this NAV vet be done, and
those who have neglected pruning trees
and similar plants requiring II should not
delay the operation, although 1t may be
put off with some kinds until the leaves
are fully expanded. But there appear TO
he many erroneous ideas prevalent among
those who have had little experience in
plant culture, and the most common one
Is, that vines and trees require pruning
only once a year. which frequently leads
70 severe losses. both IN fruit and vicor Of
the specimens.
A man, for instance, concludes that his
old apple or pear trees require pruning,
the branches having become too abundant
for the free admission of li-h; and air into
the centre Of the head, OF because some
Of the leading shoots have become too tall
or the lower branches jroop too much 70
admit Of workin. the ground underneath
He, therefore, proceeds 70 ;hin ont, cut
back or trim Up, Scveriu- large or small
branches, as the ease may require -
far, the operation may Be- performed in a
malicious manner, but in months following
II viii usually be observed that numerous
sprouts viii spring from latent buds near
the point where q branch has been severed
from the main stem or elsewhere, aud ifl
these are permitted to grow it Is at the ex-
pense Of those and other parts Of the tree;
besides in most eases they sprin. from the
points where no shoots are desired. and
viii be removed at the next annual prun-
Inc. Examples of this kind NAV be seen
in hundreds Of orchards at any time dur
ing the Summer months, the vigor of the
trees being wasted in these sap sprouts, Is |
they are usually termed BY farmers. Now
the proper course 10 pursue IS TO visit the
pruned trees once or twice during the sea.
son, breaking or cutting of these surplus
shoots while they are young. thereby fore
ing the sap into other channels.
We think those who have had any ex-
Perienee 10 the care OF orchards vii read
lily see the Importance Of this operation in
connection with that of the regular annu-
Al pruning. OF course We DO not assert
that al trees require pruning every year
bat If 1t Is done, Summer pinching and
rubbing OF surplus shoots should always
follow. If trees are properly pruned at
the start, followed by judicious care in
Summer, there viii be little need Of re-
moving large branches a. thew be-
come old. A fruit tree should receive its
first severe pruning at the time OF plant
ing in the orchard and there IS little danger
Of reducing the top too much.
In planting peach trees. say one year
old and FIVE feet high, We would cut back |
the main stem 10 three or three and a-half
and all the side shoots 10 within one or
two buds Of their base, which. in ordinary
varieties, would mean TO within three
inches. With pears, apples, and plums,
less severe pruning viii suffice; but We
would reduce al branches 70 about one
third Of their original length, and if the |
trees have been transported to a consider |
able distance, and become somewhat dry |
during transit, still further reduction |
will be beneficial. The ends Of all roots
severed by spades in digging should also |
be smOothed OF with a sharp knife before !
planting. This kind Of pruning Is the
almost universal practice with nurserymen |
and others who have had extensive expert
ence IN tree culture. OF course there are
men who claim that it is wrong in theory !
to reduce the natural number Of buds and |
branches upon tree in order to secure a |
vigorous, healthy growth; but we can as
sure our readers that it works well in |
practice, even if it does not exactly accord /
with some Of the theories advanced to
prove that it Is wrong.
The next period in the life Of fruit
trees when very severe pruning may be .
beneficial, Is when they have reached an
age Of unfruitfulneSs, either in consequence /
Of having been permitted to overbear or /
Of neglect Of pruning or culture. Old
orchards which have become almost or
quite barren may frequently be restored
TO health and fruithfulness by removing
one-half Of all the branches entire, and
then shortening the remainder one-half. at
the same time adding fertilizers to the soil. .
Considerable attention, however, will be /
reauiSite durinO the Summer IN r,,r,o,.;,,,, /