Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-12
For the Freeman.
Apple Orchard Pruning &.
ICONCIIDED

Some old orchardist may say Let the
old branches have their own way. and not
cut them off, and you will not be troubled
with water sprouts, or suckers" | would
answer: 1t matters not whether the outer
branches are cut off or left on the tree
when they become diseased and dying, SC
far as promoting the growth of those
| sprouts is concerned.
have seen and treated trees that were
decaying in the outer branches, and prun.
ed judiciously, 1. e, old wood cut away
and the wound covered and kept so, thai
| have thrown up a new top and set good
examples, and become shining lights il
the orchard. But l happen to have JUS
now good many trees that are not of The
| stamp that would make practical hort
culturist weep for joy because of then
symmetry.
THE GREENING
is an old and much esteemed variety, ant
probably is one of the best old sorts We
have left us that we can rely upon Thi.
tree wants good deal of pruning to &c
it started right, and obeys orders very vel
after; still the branches have q horizonta
and often dropping tendency, and re
quire cutting away, if the top is fOunt
the ordinary Height (say five feet), or team
cultivation is desired. There are branchc!
on nearly all varieties that will get tn,
stars of us, while occupied with more
pressing and arduous duties of the furm
rs in summer, for instance, haying, har
vesting, ETC., must be done in their proper
season. but pruning we can give the . %
by" until we have more time, till Il more
convenient season.
The trees are loaded down with fruit a
this season (summer) and some branches
are more horizontal than others. and as
the fruit enlarges and weighs down the
limb while it is growing, it is, of course
more easily bent. and seldom, if ever
regains its former position.
You have an orchard, and YOU fine
branches in it as described above: you
have neglected them from year to year
you have looked at them over YOUR shoul
der every time you have passed through
and you feel as you do sometimes whcr
you wish you knew how much pork ani
flour there was in your barrels, wher
those commodities are high. and you feal
your barrels are nearly empty, as if moi
looking in would make more or less; YOU
want to know, but fear the result of youl
investigation. This feeling has its root ii
derellction of duty, or rather is dcrcliction
Those limbs spoken of above continue
to grow, meantime, and now they have
got to be SO large that you despair and
say " If cut them off | shall sow seeds
of decay; | guess l will let them Slide
another year." If you want the branches
oft, screw up your desperation, and do it;
then cover the wounds well, and keep them
So and | will be responsible for the rest.
You will ask with surprise, perhaps ~" You
would not cut them off at this season
(August, may beg, would you? No one
thinks of pruning at this season of the
year, and it is in the wrong time of the
moon, too" No matter. If those
branches trouble you so that you cannot
sleep some bright moonlight night, and
you feel like work, 90 out and cut them
otf-good pastime. If the moon happens
to cast censuring eye towards you, Just
shake your fist at her and keep right
along.
And now l am going to say, right here,
that it will be considered an innovation. |
presume, THAT pruning can and may be
done at all times of the year; in the moon
out of the moon; in summer, winter,
spring and autumn-at all times when it
suits your fancy and convenience; pro-
vided, always, that you corer the wound
well and Keep IL so.
am aware that most people think that
there is but short season suitable for
say old of the moon in February
and March, or spring of the year, any way.
Pomologists largely advocate