The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-10
Winter Pruning.

There are times when practice and theory
do no not apparently agree, and winter prun-
ing is a case in point. The older gardeners
have been taught that fresh wounds during cold
freezing weather would not heal, that disease
would certainly set in, causing death or perma-
nent injury to portion ofthe tree, lat least. The
cory certainly teaches that when the inner Or
ganism of the wood is exposed, the air at lower
temperature will freeze the delicate parts, and
death must result; yet we find our nursery
man of later years pruning their trees during
very cold weather, on account of the personal
comfort to themselves, arising from the dry
firm ground to walk on, and no ill-effects arise
therefrom The old adage of pruning when
ever your knife is sharp is not far from the
truth, after all, although prejudice, at least,
will incline US to defer the opportunity until
the milder days of early spring.
A system that has proved entirely satisfac-
tory to more than one, is performed somehow
in this wise In the earlier stages ofthe trees
life, after it has become established in the Or
chard and garden, select three branches, as
nearly as possible together, and at a height
from the ground depending upon the desired
length of body. These three branches should
diverge at equal angles, and resemble what
botanists call "a whorl." About eighteen
inches above this whorl another set of three
branches should be encouraged to start out,
and all others between the two sets must be
rubbed or cut off This arrangement OF the
branches must be continued as heleading shoot
increases in height. AS to the side branch
lets, growing out Of the selected branches,
these must be thinned out with judgment, al
lowing only sufficient to remain to form an
open, healthy top. If headed in too much a
crowded head will result, which is waste OF
vitality. Pruning causes strong growth, but
at the same time, it will be at the expense OF
the trees constitution.
The main points in pruning trees may be
summed up in very few words Commence
when the plant is very young, and no harm
will result from removing the slender young
twigs, for if allowed to remain until they as
sumo the size of thick branches, more or less
injury will result.
Be sure to give the cut portion OF large
wounds a coating of shellac dissolved i'll alco-
hol, or when very large wrap up in moist clay
and cow manure. Dull tools invariably leave
rough, jagged surface, which is more diff
cult TO heal than a perfectly smooth cut.
In the ornamental department no set rules
can be laid down to guide the inexperienced
arborculturist; but any one with an eye fol
symmetrical proportions can induce the head
OF favorite specimen to assume proper pro-
portions and outline. If the tree inclines
to become struggling, with long shoots, bare OF
branchlets, they must be well headed back, and
if the limbs spread too much cut to an inside
bud; but if, on the contrary, they grow too
closely together, then select an outside bud to
cut back to. 1t is preferable to encourage a
straight leading shoot to all trees, and never
allow it to fork under any circumstances
More trees are injured by high winds than any
other source.