Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-03-27
Pruning Fruit Trees.

About this time in the year Il great many
people are seized with kind of fever or
mania for pruning fruit trees. They have
an idea that trees must be pruned-they
see others at it, and hear it said that it is
essential to the welfare and fruitfulness of
the tree that it should be treated to an an
nual pruning, and so they 60 at ii without
knowing why or how. A certain amount
of pruning, if done at the right time and
in II proper manner, is, no doubt, not only
not injurious, but highly beneficial, if not
absolutely essential to the best success in
fruit raising. 1t has been said that before
beginning to prune, IL man should know
when to prune, what to prune, and how to
prune. Armed with this knowledge, and
directed by good common sense and sound
judgment, man may be trusted with
pruning tools in an orchard. But iudg-
ing from the manner in which the work is
often done, it is quite evident that many
persons go at this work who are not posted
on either one of these three points of
knowledge. If asked why they do this
work at II certain season of the year, they
can give no intelligent answer to the ques-
ton, only that others do it ut that time.
If interroga.ed as to the reason for taking
off IL particular branch, no answer can be
given except that they have IN idea that
about so much wood and brush should be
taken away, and that branch was about Us
handy to cut rs any. Now l am convinced
that this whole system of cutting and
slashing without knowing when, how. OF
why, is all wrong. 1t is II question whcth-
er no pruning at all would not be better
plan. believe in pruning, but not in in
discriminate cutting and trimming, such
as is too frequently practiced. As to the
time when the operation should be per-
formed, | will only say in passing, that it
will depend on the object to be reached by
it. But l do not desire to discuss this fea-
ture of the subject ut this time, but to no
tice in part why and how pruning should
be done. My reference to the why of this
operation will be in very general sense,
as to discuss it ut length would be to in
volve the question of the time when this
work should be done. No pruning tool
should ever be placed to branch to sever
it from the tree, without the operator has
clear idea why it should be taken off.
If he is not able to give an intelligent rea-
son for it, he had best leave it on till he
can give such reason. The primer, be-
fore beginning on II tree, should be able to
form correct picture in his mind of the
tree as it will look when it is pruned The
first thing 10 be aimed at is TO produce or
preserve a perfect symmetry in the form
OF the tree. Its head should be rs near
perfectly balanced on the trunk as it is pos
sble TO get it. This should be kept before
the mind at every step of the pruning
process. Should the tree lean, this should
be taken into the account, and the balance
as nearly preserved as possible. Pruning
should usually begin at the top or center,
and work downward and outward, rather
than the opposite. Too frequently the out
er and lower branches are pruned off,
leaving the head of the tree crowded into
us small space as possible. OF course,
when the head is too low, or if it is of an
exceedingly spreading nature, this couse
may be pursued SO far us is necessary to
correct the evil, but not further. The
pruning should be so conducted as to leave
the head of the tree rather open at the
center, so as to admit the air and sunshine
10 all parts of the tree. The branches should
be left evenly distributed throughout the
head; not crowded thickly in places while
large gaps or vacant places are left in other
parts. Branches that cross and are liable
to rub and chafe when swayed by the wind
should be, one of them, removed, ALWAYS
taking the one that is needed the least to
preserve the symmetry and regularity of
the tree. Every person who attempts to
prune an orchard should have regular
pruning knife with "hawk- bill " blade, as
with such knife in good order. man
can, by straining on it some, sever Il branch
mn inch or AN inch and half in diameter
None but smooth, clean cut should ever
be made in this work. Every branch should
be cut as near the base as it can be with
out leaving a scar larger than the branch
itself A very common evil in pruning is
10 leave stub from half to several inches