The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-07-31
The Principals o, Pruning.
BY q. A. MAcREAN.

The art of pruning is one of the
simp est as well as one of the most
important operations connected with
horticulture. Yet it Is one that is fire..
quently neglected, on ill-performed
The principal objects of pruning arc
TO induce vigorous Symmetrical
growth, remove superfluous wood, and
promote irultfllness.
Whatever be the form of training,
adopted, there are some general prin-
cipales underlying all pruning opera
tons, which should be observed to
some extent, though no precise rule
can be given for all cases. Briefly
stated, these principals are: When
the growth of wood is large and the
tree or vine vigorous, more wood
should be cut away than when the
tendency to the production of WOOD
IS small. When there is great ten
dency to the production of wood and
fruit, pruning Of the wood and thin
ming of the fruit, or both, may be
necessary in order to produce the best
specimens. Shy bearing in trees is
sometimes treated with root pruning.
When an upright growth is desired.
pruning of the lateral growth is re-
quired, and when rounded, bushy
growth is wanted, the main or central
stem and longest laterals should be
shortened in.
TO prune successfully requires taste
and good judgment, and much beauty
and utility can be given to the form of
a tree by proper pruning; but too
much or unskilful pruning may be
done with scarcely less injurious re-
suits than those that follow the neg
lect of the operation. Pruning at the
wrong season, the removal Of very
large branches, and the neglect to
prune, are responsible causes for the
rregular-headed and unshapely trees
which are found in far too many
orchards.
In order to have well-shaped heads
on trees, pruning and training should
be commenced when the trees are
quite young. Many trees are trained
with too low heads, which much in
terfears with the work Of cultivating
an orchard. In garden culture, or for
specimen trees on the
lawn, lOw-headed horizontally branch
ed trees are sometimes desirable; but
for orchard culture the heads should
be hsgh enough to allow a convenient
in cultivating. Removing
large limbs from trees is a practice
much to be deprecated but when
ever necessary it should be done very
and at the proper season, so
that the wound will heal rapidly and
the tree suffer the least loss Of sap.
The removal of large limbs also causes
IN unsigntly trunk, making it rough,
harder to clean, and more secure
larbor for instcts, moss, &c.
When superfluous shoots or branches
ire removed in their incipicnt stages
If growth, no such effects are pro-
luced. Summer pruning, or more
nipping of the shoots as they
grow, can ofthn be employed to adj
preferable to pruning wehn
he wood is dormant. This method
If pruning, if begun in season while
he tree is young, will cause an even
md Symmetrical growth, which can
rot be so well attained when al the
is done when the wood is dor
nant. Spring-sct trees are generally
n need of thinning out of superfiurous
ranches, shoots and buds of the same
eason's growth, which can be done
letter early in the season than when
he wood secomes dormant. Black
'erry and raspberry bushes can he
endered much more shapely, and of
ubstantial growth, by nipping in the
anes when about three feet high,
han by allowing them to spindle up;
a which condition they are not as
yell fitted to cary a crop Of fruit, or
withstand severe storms Oh cold.