Litchfield enquirer., 1876-05-18
AGRICULTURAL.

this time we may expect" to hear the ax and saw among the old fruit trees. Some times their owners prune just because they have been in the habit of ooing so , . at this season, while others no it to pro- duce certain beneficial results. But we are inclined to think that a majority of our farmers have no particular object in view when performing this operation, and our reason for thinking so is the manner in which the pruning is done. If the trees are very old, and have be- come stunted through long years of use- fitness in producing heavy crops of fruit, they usually show it in the scraggy branches, numerous small undeveloped spurs as we'll as the absence of good, healty, terminal shoots of the preceding years growth. If there is still life and vigor in the old stems and roots, it is generally shown in many young shoot springing from near the base of the larger branches, which are usually termed "watersprouts" or shoots. Now these water shoots, springing from the parts named, are reliable indications of vigorous tree, no matter how much de- cay may be found about the main stems; even if it is but hollow shell, there must be healthy roots to produce vig- orous growth of shoots"
 A slight examination of the successive annual rings of the branches above the point from which the water shoots spring. will show that there has been a constant lessening in deposition of wood for several years previous to their ap- pearance, until at last the outlet for an upward flow of sap was cut off or so im- peded thatit forced out new shoots from the base of their old and feeble branches. It may be asked why did not the leaves on those bearing branches draw to them, selves and assimilate this crude sap in sufficient quantities to keep up 8 vigor- our growth and return enough for form ing liberal annual layer of cambium as they did while the tree was young. A still closer examination of the old branches will show why this does not and cannot occur. As the tree grows old and the leaves multiply in number, they be- come proportionally smaller and less ac- tive in assimilation; besides the fruit takes up the greater part of the sap which assimilated by them, leaving 8 very minute quantity to pass downward and form cambium, or new layer of wood. This disposition of the assimila- ted sap accounts for the well-known fact that trees bearing heavy crops of fruit produce very little young wood during what is termed the fruiting season. If what is called the circulation of the sap could be continued through the old wood or heart of the stem or branches, then we should see less of this gradual decline in growth as the trees increase in fruitful ness and as the sap only finds a passage through the young cells of newly formed wood it becomes important that such channels should be pro- yided.
 Taking this view of the subject, which we believe to be correct one, it may be readily seen that the usual mode of pruning old trees, that is, cutting off old branches entire and removing all water shoots on very old specimens, is all wrong. We would not. of course en- courage the production of water shoots in the centre of moderately young trees' for these take to themselves that which is needed in the bearing branches; but their appearance, as we have said, is in- dicative of 8 stoppage of the channels which should conduct the crude sap fur ther on.
 The proper method of renovating old fruit trees is to first apply stimulating manure to the soil; then, instead of pruning up" commence at the top and "head down." shorten all the old branches one-half to two-thirds of their original length. Thin out the central branches if they are likely to become crowded, and, during the summer, break out from time to time all surplus sprouts, leaving only those which will be required to give the head of the tree the requisite shape. The wounds made in cutting off large branches should be covered with some kind of solution which will keep out the water and pre- vent decay. Common grating wax ap- piled hot is as good as anything known for this. but ordinary mineral paint may be used instead without danger or injury to the tree. When the old stems are partially dead the rotten wood may be removed and the sound parts under meath painted over to prevent further decay. The coarse bark should also be scraped off from the stem and larger branches, after which an application of soft soap or white-wash may be applied with benefit.
 The renovation of old fruit trees may frequently be attended with better re- suits than planting out of new, especially of choice varieties known to be adapted to the locality.- Rural NeW Yorker.