The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-05-05
Trimming Fruit Trees.

S. p. Snoac, IN Pacific Rurdl Press.
Some of your correspondents do
not seem to quite harmonic upon
this subject. Intelligent pomologists
and nurserymen sometimes entertain
quite different views in the matter,
and what makes it bewildering to the
novice is the fact that, in a certain
sense, both sides are right and both
sides wrong. 1t is quite true that a
tree closes something every time we
prune it," Every limb, every twig,
every bud or rootlet taken from a
tree, takes that much life. vitality out
of the tree. This is one extreme.
On the other hand, every limb, or
tWig, or root that does not grow
where it should, or that grows out
OF proportion-two much OF two lit,
tle-delracts from the value and
usefulness of the tree.
An intelligent and otherwise SEN
sible nurseryman and fruit grower
once told me to "never trim a fruit
tree; let nature have her perfect
work. 1t limb is not wanted in a
certain place, nature will not put it
there. We cannot improve upon
nature even if the wind blows tree
over, let it lie, nature will adapt it TO
it's position and do better tor it thar.
can the hand OF art" Nature can
doubtless perform wonders, and We
should look to her very much for
guidance and direction, but we must
not abandon our reason and throw
our entire weight upon nature. The
principle is good, but, carried to ex-
cess, it will carry us back to the sour
crab tor apples and the little bitter,
black cherry OF the forests instead OF
the large, delicious cherries now
raised in our State.
n celebrated nurserymcu once
said Never take limb from a
tree without being able to give rea-
son." With this maxim constantly in
mind, and this other one also, always
take OF limb that is not wanted"
the primer will seldom go tar wrong.
cannot conceive how trees vitality
can be increased by trimming, the case
of increasing growth by trimming
newly set trees, given by Mr.. M. p.
Owen in the Rtu0t OF February 18th,
might lead to improper conclusions.
| think the increased growth OF the
prunned trees over those unpruned
was owing to this cause, viz: 1t is a
fact admitted and advocated by al
most every nurseryman and pomol-
opjst that trees should be trimmed
when ;ransplanted; the limbs should
be taken OFT W correspond with the
loss OF roots; otherwise The demand
OF all the limbs upon the mutilated
roots is more than the diminished
roots can properly supply. The trees
suffers, perhaps dies, III consequence.
| saw an apple tree last iall appar-
emily dead, leaves dry and branches
withered. pulled it up and saw
that the gophers mad gnawed all the
roots off except few short stubs.
More tor pastime than with any hope,
| cut off all tie limbs except a lew
stubs, set it again, packing the dirt
which was somewhat moist, as 1t Is Il
northern sidehill-tight around the
roots, and the tree, somewhat to my
SURPRISE is now alive. Had lett on
all the limbs, | have no doubt 1t
would have died. III trees are care
fully taken up, and have u large num-
Der OF tibrous roots, they may he set
with little more trimming than is nee
essary for their future good
In trimming a tree, several objects
must be held i'll view. Flrst.-A
proper balance OF limbs ana branches.
a leaning tree or one sided tree
NAV produce good fruit, but a
straight well balanced tree will pro-
uuce more 1rull and better fruit 1 so
once or twice around Tree Try To
tahe in the whole situation before 1
put my KNIFE to limb. l look az
The probable size and shape OF the
tree live 10 ten years hence, and CUT
accordingly. Three years ago set
a row vi plum Trees where Lne pre-
vallmg winus made ali the branches
GROW on one side. Sickness pre-.
Vented my attending 10 theIn pro-
,,.rly. ana The ncXL winter they were
:: sorry slyhI-all VI. one size. by
NV constant attentloh, SUMMER ana
wlutcr, encouraging one side and dis
..uraulng the other, they are now