Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-04-13

The following seasonab!e article
is from the Tum~t,'y Gent'emn"
1t is now admitted by all who have
given attention to the subject, and 1t
is in accordance with both theory
and practice, that to favor free
growth Of the shoots and leaves, pru
ming should be performed while
trees are dormant or leatiess. On
the other hand, to check growth, and
to promote truitfu'ness, the pruning
should be done on the tree in leaf
and growing. We know of no cult
vators who dissent from these truths.
1t is commonly admitted, also, that
summer pruning favors Il more
speedy healing of wounds.
Each season, therefore, has its pc
culiar advantages. Unless the trees
have superabundant vigor, the prun-
ing should not be done after the
buds begin to swell. Winter may
be better than early spring for har-
dy trees by allowing the freshly Gu,
faces to dry and close the sap pores
before the commencement Of growth.
But as cutting away branches always
makes trees more susceptible to the
effects of cold, the work should not
be performed much before spring on
half-tender trees. Pruned ut this
season of the year, they are not
checked in growth,as when the work
is done in summer, when the trees
must lose Il potion OF its leaves and
become thus suddenly checked in
the performance ct its functions.
Pruning i'll summer, or while the
trees are in leaf and growing, may
be practiced if they are i'll vigorous
condition, and but small portion is
cut away at time. There can be
no harm at any season in removing
Il single misplaced shoot. a better
way is to rub off needless shoots as
they are starting, or to pinch off the
ends to prevent extending, as this is
not attended with large loss of
leaves. II trees grow too fast to
bear, Il general pinching over the
head, or sun mer thinning of the
shoots Of the whole tree, will tend
to induce fruittulness the second
year.
AS we have already stated, sum-
mef pruning usually favors the more
speedy healing OF the wounds where
limbs of much size are cut off. But
experiments do not prove that prun-
ing at this season is always best for
the tree. James Ridpalh, of Iowa,
cut off a branch from an apple tree
i'll every month of the year, and ut
the end OF five years, when all had
healed over, the wood was found
least decayed, on cutting into the
tree, in those pruned in February
and March, and most III those cut in
June and July-the latter having
healed entirely over one year the
soonest. In another siuIilar expert
ment, all were healed over III tour
years, with Il similar result. The
decay from the summer pruning was
about three times as great us i'll win
tES.
The reas IN of this increased decay
from summer pruning, may perhaps
be understood by observing the con-
dition Of the wood III both cases.
After the leaves (Which continue to
pump the sap from the tree as long
as they remain) have fallen In Au-
tumn, the roots gradually absorb
moisture from the 81 il, and fill the
tree with it during the winter, caus-
ing its copious discharge Oh the ap-
proach OF warm weather from such
trees AZ the birch, sugqr-maple. and
other trees, aud from grapevines, and
a less flow from other trees, If the
pruning is done before this dis
charge commences, 80 that the sap
pores may be closed by drying, tho
force of the sap will be directed t.
the remaining branches and buds,
without check or arrangement. But
If the sap current is first allowed to
set toward the leaves in branches al
ready growing, the sudden check by
ampu,ation der,nges the watery cur
rents, and disorder and disease fol-
low so far as the wood is affected,
while the flow expends itself in Il
more speedy tormstion OF wood at
the exterior OF the wound.
The result suggests third mode of
pruning, u combination Of the two
described, and whiuh has
been practiced by some cultivators.
This is to cut off the limbs intended
T..