Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-11-04
For the oxford Democrat.
FRUIT CULTURE.
sssaisss
Number s.
PRUNING.
Number s.

The meteorological influences of THE
different fruit growing countries of the
world develop characteristics of growth,
that require different modes of treatment.
In England a system of training is prac-
ticed, which is almost unknown and need
less here. and English genealogical writ,
ers have given authority to a minute and
systematic method of pruning, that is
useless in this country, where most trees
are grown as standards and are visited
with plenty of sunshine.
Pruning in this country Is no difficult
art. Indeed a general and severe pruning
is seldom necessary if trees are looked al
ter every year. As has been previously
suggested pruning should commence at
the time of transplanting, when 1t IS nee
essary to cut back the branches to restore
the balance between the top and roots,
which sustain more or less loss OF vitality
in their removal from the nursery. II Is a
custom with nurSerymen to cut back the
branches to two or three buds. In run
inc small trees, we should aim to give
proper direction to the shape OF the tu-
turc head. We should cut just above
a bud. and if the limb is inclined to grow
too upright we should cut to bud on
the lower side, and to bud on the up
per side when it is inclined to grow too
low or spreading. Each spring after
tranSplanting the trees should be examined
and all cross branches removed while they
are small, and any that may have out
grown the other should be headed IN.
Ii dead or decaying branches appear they
should be removed at once, and suckers,
which sap the life OF 50 many orchards,
should be dealt with They should be
removed as soon as they appear, when
they can be easily rubbed OFT With the
hand. Ii we allow them TO attain much
size and cut them oft with saw, clus-
ter of new shoots generally s?yout out
around the stub unless i, is dug ont.
These small attentions. bestowed year
", will be all a healthy standard tree
will need 10y way of pruning. The agents
of nature will develop it into symmetrical
proportions.
Pruning Is sometimes necessary to rc-
store yigor to feeble and stunted trees.
BY reducing the branches the supply OF
sap, which those removed formerly alb
sorbed goes to feed the remaining ones,
which often start into luNuuant growth
under the new treatment Young trees.
much cniccblcd, are often cut back to q
single bud, which enables the roots to
regain vitality and send out new shoots
for thrifty head
Ii "a general pruning becomes necessary
through neglect of years one should have
some discriminating idea Of what he
ought TO do. and not cut and saw iill the
beauty OF his orchard is destroyed as Is Of
ten done. lie should use Judgment and
consider well which branches should be
removed and which should remain to leave
the top in good proportion.
WOUNDS MADE BY PRUNING.
The removal Of a large limb leaves an
ugly wound, which viii crack and often
20 TO decay under the influences Of the
weather unless some preventative Is ap-
piled 10 the wound Many mixtures are
prepared for this purpose, but the most
effective one have ever seen tired, Is one
recommended by Downing. which Is COM
posed of gum-shcllac dissolved in alcohol
in proportion to make a liquid about the
thickness Of paint. This should be APP
piled with a common paint brush to the
wound directly after it Is made. III
quickly becomes hard and adhesive, pro
tects the wound from the weather, and
thereby facilitates the healing process.
TIE SEASON FOR PRUNING.
As pruning is practiced TO produce diff
fercnt results, the time of year when It
should be performed is dependent on the
object to be accomplished A principal
objec; is the promotion Of growth; and
for this the best time, according to the
most reliable authority, is in the autumn
after the leaves have fallen, or in winter
during mild weather. If the latter time
Is chosen the work should be delayed
till the severity of the winter is past.
The last of February or the first Of March
IS, for most parts of the country IN or
binary seasons, a good time. Trees
should never be pruned when the sap
flows freely or when the buds are swell !
ing, as nothing can then prevent them
from bleeding, which often causes severe
injury. The sap then lost can be pre-
served and used TO quicken the life of the
remaining branches if pruning is done
in autumn or winter.
Another principal object in pruning Is |
10 induce fruitfulness, and the best sea-
son for this is just before mid summer or
early in July, when such branches as are
not essential to the symetrical balance Of
the top, can be removed, that all the pro
ductiye energies of tree may be directed |
to the remaining branches. But one Of
the most practical and effective modes of
inducing truitfulneSs in trees that have
gone past the bearing age is
ROOT PRUNING.
ANYTHING that checks the flow of sap
has tendency to develop fruit, from the
fact that it depriyes the tree Of much of
its former nourishment, checking the
growth of the leaves and their demands |
till there is a surplus of organizable mat
TOR which coes M once TO form fruit buds |