Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-05-12


will be sore looser in the long run
"a looser when it will be impossible
for him to find a remedy"
Pruning Old Fruit Trees.
about this time we may expect"
to hear the AK and saw among the
old fruit trees. Sometimes their
owners prune just because they have
been in the habit of doing so at this
season, while others do it to produce
certain beneficial results. But we
are inclined to think that a majority
of our farmers have no particular OBJ
ject in view when performing this
operation, and our reasons for think
ing SO is the manner in which the
work is done. If the trees ale
very old, and have become stunted
through long years Of usefulness in
producing heavy crops of fruit, they
usually show it in the scraggy
branches, numerous small undc-
veloped spurs as well as the absence
of good, healthy, terminal shoots of
the preceding years. growth. Ii
there is still life and vlgor in the old
stems and roots, it is generally
shown in many young shoot spring
ing from near the base of the larger
branches, which are usually termed
'waterspouts" or shoots. Now these
water shoots, springing from the
parts named, are reliable indications
OF vigorous tree, no matter how
much decay may be found about the
main stems; even if it is but a hollow
she'll, there must be healthy roots to
produce a vigorous growth of
"shoots."
A slight examination of the sue
cessive annual rings of the branches
above the point from which the wa
ter shoots spring, will show that
there has been constant lessening
in deposition of wood for several
years previous to their appearance,
until at last the outlet for an upward
flow of sap was cut off or so impeded
that it forced out new shoots from
the base CT their old and feeble
branches. 1t may be asked why did
not the leaves on those bearing
branches draw to themselves and
assimilate this crude sap sufficient
to keep up vigorous growth and re-
tain enough for forming u liberal
annual layer of cambium as they did
while the tree was young. * still
closer examination of the old branch
es will show why this does not and
cannot occur. AS the tree grows
old and the leaves multiply in num-
Der, they become proportionally
smaller and less active in assimila-
ton; besides the fruit takes up the
greater part of the sap which is as
simulated by them, leaving very
minute quantity to pass downward
and form cambium, or new layer of
wood. This disposition of the as
simulated sap accounts for the we'll
known fact that trees bearing heavy
crops of fruit produce very little
young wood during what is termed
the truiting season. If what is call
ed 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 in
crease in fruitfulness and as the sap
only finds a passage through the
young cells of newly-formed wood it
becomes important that such chan
nels should be provided.
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 encourage the
production of water shoots in the
center 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 indicative of a stoppage of
the channels which should conduct
the crude sap further on.
The proper method of renovating
old fruit trees, is to first apply stimu-
lating manure to the soil; then, in
stead 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
like 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 oe covered
with some kind of solution which
will keep out the water and prevent
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
rotton wood may be removed and
the sound parts underneath painted
over to prevent further decay. The
coarse bark should also be scraped
off from the stem and larger branch
es, 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 bet
ter results than planting out of new,
especially of choice varieties known
to be adapted to the locality.-Ruval
Neac Yorker.
Rich Without Money.