The Portland daily press., 1878-02-25

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 a
free growth OF the shoots and leaves, pruning
should be performed while trees are dormant or
leafess. On the other hand, to check growth
and promote fruitfulaess the pruning should
bs done upon the tree in leaf and growing.
We know of no cultivators who Dissent from
these truths. 1t is commonly admitted also
that summer pruning favors more speedy
healing of the wounds. Each season, there
fore, has its peculiar advantages. Unless the
trees have superabundant vigor, 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 growth. But, as the
cutting away OF the branches always makes
trees susceptible to the effects of the cold,
the work should not be performed much before
spring on half-tender trees. Pruned at this
season OF the year, they are not checked 10
growth as when the work is done in summer,
when the tree must lose portion of its leaves,
and become thus suddenly checked in the per-
formance of its functions. A pruning in sum.
mer, or while the trees are in leaf and growing,
may be practiced If they are in vigorous COLI
dlton, and but small portion is cut away at a
time. There can be no harm at any season in
removing a misplaced shoot. A letter 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 great loss of
leaves. Ii trees grow too fast to bear, gen.
eral pinching over the head, or a summer thin
ming of the shoots of the whole tree, will tend
TO induce frutfulness 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 off.
But experiments do not prove that pruning at
this season is always best for the tree. James
Redpath Of Iowa, cut off branch from an ap-
pie tree ia every month in the year, and at the
epd of five years, when all had healed over,
the wood was found leas decayed, on cutting
March. and most in those cut in June and
July-ihe latter having healed entirely over
one year the soonest. In another similar ex-
pertinent, all were healed over in four years
with a similar result. The decay from the
summer pruning was about three times as great
as in winter. The reason for this increased de-
cay from summer pruning may pei lhaps be un-
derstood by observing the condition of the
wood in both cases. After the leaves (which
as they remain) have fallen in autumn the
roots gradually absorb the moisture from the
soil, and fill the tree with it during the winter;
causing its cOpious discharge on the approach
of warm weather from such trees as the birch,
sugar maple, and frem other trees, and from
grape-vines, and less flow from other trees.
If the pruning is done before this discharge
commences. SO that the sap pores may be
closed by drying, the force of the sap will be
directed to the remaining branches and buds,
without check or arrangement But if the san
current is first allowed to get towards the leaves
IN branches already growing, the sudden check
by amputation deranges the watery currents
and disorder and disease follow SO far as the
wood is affected, while the flow expends itself
in a speedy formation of wood at the exttem-
ity OF the wound.