Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-16
Pruning the Orchard.

Mr.. EDITOR Pruning is one of the
most necessary and useful operations that
can take place upon the fruit tree, if per-
formed by skillful cultivator-the most
detrimental when not properly conducted.
When excessive growth of wood and leaves
prevent tree from forming fruit buds, the
farmer or orchardist realizes no profit from
his frees. Cut off portion of this wood
and all the saps, which would have been ex
pended in supporting the growth of the
branch removed, is directed into the other
remaining parts, and more especially into
those in the immediate vicinity of it, This
principle of growth may be taken advant-
| age of to give symmetry to the tree. If of
| two unequal branches, the stronger is
| shortened and checked in its growth-the
other becomes stronger. This is useful
fact in pruning, because a skilful cultivator
can equalize the growth of all the parts of
the tree. The common practice of reduc-
ing the tops of all trees on transplanting is
a very judicious one, whatever may be said
against it.
| In our dry summers, and especially the
| first season after removal, the demand on
| the roots is usually much greater than they
can supply. And though the tree may
make a fine show of green leaves and COM
| mence a tolerable growth, it is only to die
in midsummer Pruning, then, should be
commenced at transplanting of the tree );
| the top of which ought to be proportionate
to the size and number of roots Should
| the top be 'high and spindling, shorten it
so as to bring the lateral shoots into a grace
full and branching form" The most de-
strable time for pruning is when the tree is
in full bloom, and sap in full flow, as at
this time the sap is active and readily forms
new bark and wood over the cut. The
economy in pruning annually is two fold
first, the expenditure of labor is then small;
and secondly the loss of vital force in ma
turing wood, afterwards to be cut off, is
saved. The branches then to be removed
are small, and the wounds readily heal in
one or two seasons growth The objects
of pruning are to open the top of the tree SO
as to admit the sun and rain, rid the
tree of dead limbs, and those
that chafe by contact with Others
and to check and render fruitful trees of
too vigorous growth. May or June is the
best time for trimming sold trees" or such
as are vigorous, which have been long neg
lected." The wounds, when large, should
be covered with coat of thick Spanish
brown paint or grating wax. Grating
wax of the best kind is thus made Take
four parts rosin, one of tallow and one of
beeswax, melt and stir them well together
then pour into bucket or pan of cold
water. AS soon as cool enough to be ham
died, work it over and draw it out like
shoemakers wax, until it is entirely pliable.
1t may then be used Immediately or laid up
and kept for years.
In conclusion the writer would suggest
that the farmer select but few varieties of
apples, but let them be the most productive
and marketable fruits for. standard apples
for this region Hall pippin, limber-twig
and winesap are perhaps among the best.
The advantage in having large number of
trees of few superior varieties is, that the
producer who has large quantity of any
good variety can more readily dispose of
them at wholesale. 1t is fault of many
orchards that they have too many varieties,
many of which are inferior, and that they
only produce few barrels of any one va
riety. separate orchard may be planted
for household consumption, in which the
cultivator may select all varieties desired.