The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1877-04-12
for the farmer.
the SEASON PeR PRUNING.

The following seasonable article is from our
valuable contemporary, the Country Gentleman:
1t is admitted by all who have given at
tenfion to the subject, and it is in accordance
with both theory and practice, that to favor
free growth of the shoots and leaves, pruning
shonld be performed while trees are dormant or
leafess. On the other hand, to check growth,
and 10 pronIote fruitfulness the pruning should
be done on the trees in leaf aud growing. We
know Of no cultivators who dissent from these
truths. 1t il commonly admitted, also, that
Summer pruning favors a more speedy neaiing
of the wounds.
Each season, therefore, has its peculiar advan-
tages. Unless the trees have supefaounoant
v;gor the pruning should not be done after the
buds begin to swell Winter may be better
than early Spring for hardy trees, by allowing
the freshly-cut faces to dry, and close the sap
pores before the commencement OF CROWN ou.,
more susceptible to the effects Of cold, the work
should not be performed much before Spring on
half-tender trees. Pruned at this season OF the
wear. they are not checked in growth, as when
The work is done in Summer, when the tree must
lose portion of its leaves, and become thus sud-
denly checked in the performance of its func-
tions.
Pruning in Summer, or while the trees are in
leaf and growing, may be practiced if they are in
a vigorous condition, and but small portion is
cut away at time. There can be no harm ut
any season in removing single misplaced shoot.
better way is to rub off needless shoots as they
are starting, or 10 plncn on tue enus 70 prevent
extending, as this is not attended with large
loss of leaves. If trees grow too fast to bear, u
general pinchng over the head, or Summer
thinning of the shoots of tho whole tree, will
tend to induce fruitfulness the second year.
As we have already stated, Summer pruning
usually favors the more speedy healing Of the
wounds where limbs of much size are cut OIL.
But experiments do not prove that pruning at
this season is always best for the tree. James
Rsdpath, of Iowa, cut off branch from an ap-
pie tree in every month of the year, and at 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 aud March,
and most in those cut in June aud July-the lat
ter having healed entirely over one year the
soonest. In another similar experiment, all
were healed over in four years, with similar
result. The decay from the Summer pruning
was about three times as great as in Winter.
In this connection offer practical hint for
the mechanical removal Of limbs which require
the use of tho saw. To prevent splitting the
bark on the lower side as the limb falls, first
making O small cut beneath and opposite to the
main cut made by the saw above or if they do
not quite coincide let the lower one be slightly
nearest the tree. This mode will not only leave
smoother face, but will save time and trouble
to the operator, who must otherwise hold the
branch with one of his hands or by an assistant.
The saving off of the stumps above mentioned is
rapidly and easily done without any such care.