The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-12
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Some Hints on Pruning.

While The scientific gardeners and
crchardists are usually doing more or
less pruning at all seasons, and are con-
stantly clipping off shoot here and q
larger branch there, or breaking the bud
out of some twig to prevent it going
astray. the novice in such matters seems
to be fearful of losing something of value
if he cuts tree or shrub in any part.
Then we have men aspiring to be teacli-
ers in the horticultural art, who inveigh
against any kind of pruning, and tell us
that it is not n natural operation, and
the less done of it the better, as though
there was no such thing as improving
UPON natural methods Of raising trees
and shrubs, or of rearing animals to meet
the wants or fancies of men. But culti-
vated plants are placed under unnatural
conditions, and to bring them to our
ideas of perfection requires the applica-
ton of unnatural processes, among which
pruning is one of the most Important and
useful.
PRUNING TO INvIGoRATE.-1t may
seem a rather singular operation to
cut away .one-third or one-hat OF q
tree, in order to increase. its size and
stimulate it to make vigorous growth
but long experience has taught the gar
dener and orchardist that severe pruning
is one of the most certain and effective
invigorators to apply to old, stunted trees
and shrubs. Old fruit trees, or even
young ones that have become stunted by
over bearing or neglect, may often be
started into vigorous and healthy
growth by merely shortening all the
branches to one-haf of their original
length, or when there are so many
branches that they crowd each other, a
portion should be removed entire, and
the remainder shortened to, q proper
length. Of course, cultivation and
manuring should not be neglected, but
in many Instances these will not produce
the desired effect unless they are accom-
panied by severe pruning. vigorous
growth in fruit trees will result in large
and handsome fruit; for while a stunted
tree may put on promising show for fruit
in its abundance of bloom in spring, it
may fall short long before the harvest
and even if it should carry a agoodly num-
ber of blossoms through to the ripening
season, the fruit will be invariably small
and inferior. Better a little and perfect
fruit, than an abundance that is small
and worthless.
To lay down any specific rules for
pruning is impossible, as each individ-
ual tree or shrub may require different
treatment. Some may need trimming
up, others heading back; instances will
also occur where one tree needs thinning
out of branches, ard the very next one
shortening in, for the purpose of in
creasing the number, or thickening up OF
the head. These operations may be en-
ployed not only to invigorate, but also to
give the required form to the tree, and
they are as important rs good food, shel
Ter and care to the domesticated animal.
PRUNING - ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. -
Among, oil oe st.s kSenss ( a4ttssefa- is ai q
much need Of pruning as among the more
useful. If the pines, spruces, and other
large growing evergreens are permitted
to grow unpruned, they will usually
shoot up too tall and slender, and their
leading shoots should, therefore, be cut
out every few years while young, in
order to give them a wide spread OF
lower branches, and the latter should
also be shortened to make them more
compact, if the tree is inclined 20 be of a
loose and open habit. Old-time garden
ers and nurserymen were very chary OF
breaking or cutting off the leading shoots
of evergreens, especially, those of the
pines and spruces, fearing that the loss
of the leader would permanently in
jure the form and symmetry of the tree
but our best cultivators of such plants
in these days purposely cut out the lead
ers of all the rapid growing sorts to I'M
prove the form and enchance their value
for ornamental purposes. If the trees
are to be raised for timber, straight tall
stem would be of more value than any
number of handsome branches, and
beauty might be well sacrificed to use
fulness. In raising deciduous trees, a
man can readily change the form to suit
his taste, and produce almost any style
he fancies and if the pruning is done at
the proper season, there is no reason for
believing, as some persons assert, that it
induces early decay, OF shortens the life
of trees or other plants.
There are many ornamental Shrubs
which are much improved by severe
pruning, especially by thinning out the
stems Of those that grow in large thick
cluinps, and shortening those which pro-
duce their flowers on the young growth
of the season. Roses Of the class called
monthly, and also the hardy perpetuals,
should have all their main shoots cut
back at least one-half early in spring, rs
the flowers are produced on the new
growth of the season, and the stronger
and more vigorous the shoots, the larger
and more perfect the blooms. There is
too much dependence upon what is
called nature in the management Of both
plants and animals, whichis buta handy
excuse for far too wide and general
neglect of both.-Nev York SIN.
Rot and MiIdew OF the Grape.
The origin of rot and mildew of the
grape, says the New York World, has
given rise to numerous and widely-di-
verging conjectures, and the various
causes that have been attributed do not
appear to be very reliable. Both dis
eases come and 60 with the seasons, one
year being noticeab.e e on one variety and
the next upon some other kind, giving
evidence that it is miasmatic or sporadic,
and developed according to the atmos-
phere and condition of the vines as re-
CARDS health and vigor.
The precautionary measures largely
adopted by leading fruit-growers con-
sist in a free use of sulphur, applied by
dusting the vines occasionally, from the
time the seed is formed until the color
ing is at least half completed,
Vineyards with southern exposure are
generally considered more nearly exempt
from rot than any others, especially il
the soil is naturally well-drained one
and so situated that no stagnant moist
ure can exist upon it. A correspondent
writing on the treatment of grapes to
avoid rot, in the Farmers Adrocate, urges
the use of the spade instead of the plow
in the preparation of the land for plant
ing. He says: "When one knows how