The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-12-14
FARM AND GARDEN.



1t is now admitted by all who have given at
tention to the subject, and it is in accordance
with both theory and practice, that To favor a
free growth Of the shoots and leaves, pruning
should be performed while trees are dormant
or lcatlcSs On the other hanc, To check
growth, and promote truittuincsS, the pruning
should be done on the tree in leaf ana growing
We know of no cultivator who disscnts from
these truths. 1t is commonly admitted also
that Summer pruning tavors IA more speedy
healing o. the wounds
Each season, therefore, has lis peculiar ad-
vantages. Unless the trees have supcrabun-
dant vigor, the pruning should not he done al
ter the buds begin to swell. Winter may be
better than early Spring for hardy trees, by al.
allowing the freshly cut faces to dry and close
the SAD pores before the commencement of
growth But rs cutting away branches al
WAYS makes trees more susceptible to the cf-
feels of cold The work should not be performed
much before Spring on halftendcr trees.
Pruning at this season Of the year, they are not
checked in growth, as when the work is done
in Summer, when the trees must lose portion
of ITS leaves and become thus suddenly checked
in the performance Of its functions.
Pruning in Summer, or while the trees are
in leaf or growing, may be practced If they
are IN vigorous condition, and but II small por-
81
harm ut any season in removing single mis-
placed shoot. i better way j. to rub oil need.
less shoes, ~ the. ar. ,tarlln-, or 10 pinch OIL
the ends Ca pg,yc.I c>trliu-. ~ this Is not at
tended VIII large i.n- 81 ic.NC>. |! trees grow
too fast r. bear, II gchcr.. Hn'nlng over The
head or IA Summer th:u&,ua -! he SHOOTS ot
the who. jrce, will ten,i 81 I'll S'rr truitiune's
the second year.
As we have already stated, sumner pruning
usually ljtyOrS the more ,iNuiy hcallng OF the
wounds where limbs OF mdcn rilc are cut oil.
But experiments do not prove that pruning at
this season is always best tor the trees. James
Rdpath, of Iowa, cut of branch from an APP
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 dccayed, on cutting INTO
the trees in those pruned in February and
March, and most IN those cut lnJunc and July
the latter having healed entirely over one
year the soonest. In another similar cXpcr
ment Ill were healed over IN four years, with
similar result. The decay from the Summer
pruning was about three times rs great as in
Winter.
The reason of this increased decay from
Summer pruning, may perhaps be understood
by Observing the condition Of the wood IN both
cases. After the leaves (Which continue to
pump the sap from the tree aS long us they re-
main) have fallen in Autumn, the roots gradu
ally absorb moisture from the soil, and fill the
Tree with 1t during Winter, causing ITS cOplous
discharge on the approach of warm weather
from such trees as the birch, sugar maple and
other trees, and from grapcvlncs, and less
flow from other trees. II the pruning is done
before the discharge commences so that the
sap pores may be closed by drying, the force
o' the sap will be directed to the remaining
branches and buds, without check or derangc
mcnt But If the sap current Is first allowed
10 set toward the leaves in branches already
growing, the sudden cheek by amputation de
ranges the watcry currents and disorder and
disease follow so far as the wood is affected
while the flow eXpends itself in IA more speedy
formation of wood at the exterior of the wound
The result suggests third mode of pruning
combination OF the two already described
and which has been practiced by some cultiva
tors THIS is to cut off limbs intended to be
amputatCd, leaving stumps several inches long
performing the work in Winter or before the
buds swell, and then in summer cutting oil
this stump close to the tree or larger branch
The object OF this mode is to get the full benc
fit of winter pruning, by avoiding the check Of
growth produced by heavy summer looping
and at the same time securing the advantage
Off more speedy healing But it is hardly
probable that we shall secure both to their full
extent If many leaves are left on the stump,
some injury to the tree will result from their
summer removal; while the healing process
will doubtless be less rapid than ifthe whole
original foliage Of the limb were separated at
once. Yet We arc disposed to regard this meth
cd with favor, as avoiding in some degree both
evils.
In this connection, we offer IA practical hint
Cor the mechanical removal Of limbs which re
1ure the use of the saw. TO prevent splitting
the bark on the lower side AS the limb falls
first make 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 other
wise 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.
Some of the preceding remarks may appear
TOO Onjectural in character 10 be OF value; but
we have an important object in view, namely
10 excite a more close and careful examination
of the effects Of each mode, ar Ia encourage an
accurate system al experiments Tor ;h- end.
TO know best how To- preserve orchards III the
hest Bearing condition, and to prevent their
premature injury and decay, are objects worthy
Of sp,,. al 'ltcnllon.-CoHatIy GeHt}eH,dn.