The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-04-27
Pruning Trees.

To trim tree just right, requires good
Judgment, a good eye and some expert
ence, as we'll as good tools. The saw
should be not only sharp but perfectly
straight, and set wide enough to run
easy; the knife and the axe should also
be sharp. To trim trees with poor tools
is not only very disagreeable work, but
it is impossible to do the work we'll.
Some make q mistake in trimming trees
by trimming too much in the middle,
cutting out not only large limbs but also
all of the fruit bearing spurs, leaving but
a small amount of bearing wood at the
end OF each limb. While it is desirable
to cut out all limbs that cross the other
limbs and to keep the inside of the tree
so that the fruit can be easily gathered,
there is point beyond which it is not
judicious to go, as some of the best fruit
frequently grows in the center of the
tree; this is especially true in some
varieties of apples.
There are some pear trees that grow
too high, and need to have their tops cut
off to make them grow more stocky. The
peach tree not only needs to be cut off
at the top but to be headed in on all
sides.
In trimming small trees one thing
should never be lost sight of; that is the
trunks should never be exposed to the
hot sun; if the top does not spread
enough to shade it, few inches of the
lateral branches should be left to furnish
leaves for shade. Where large limbs are
cut of the wound should be covered with
gum shellac dissolved in alcohol, or
white lead mixed with very little oil.
With reference to pruning fruit trees
Mr.. Downing long since wrote, that the
peach bears pruning especially we'll; and
even late in the spring, when it is unsafe
to prune many trees because the fresh
wounds continue to bleed. A laborer
can be shown in five minutes how to
prune whole orchard, for the best
course is simply to shorten back all the
strongest shoots, over the top of the tree,
oue-half. The philosophy of this is that
the later formed buds seldom set fruit
but drop off, while the best peaches are
obtained from the stout triple buds
that have been first formed low down
on the shoot (early in the seasons
growth. The side-shoots that grow out
of strong leaders as second growth are
not so apt to hold their fruit as the slen-
alone, which have issued lower down
and earlier, and which dry up after bear
ing, and in time, drop off. This prun.
ing enables the tree to carry its burden
more safely, and facilitates picking, be-
sides conserving the health of the tree
by removing the half-ripened wood
in pruning or cutting away before the
all xuAAJ l.a11a
to injury by the winter, is applicable to
other trees than the peach. The pear is
especially safe-guarded by it. and grape
vines, Antwerp raspberries and half
hardy roses, will grow much better by
having this source Of decayed and COR
rupting sap removed. Its virus is COM
parable to that of unhealthy pus
absorbed by the blood. and spreading
pyemia through every vein.
Our readers must remember that only
recently has it been clearly demonstrated
that o dead branch of a tree makes as
great strain on the main plant for mois-
ture as does living one. 1t is one of
the most important discoveries of mod.
ern botapical science to the practical
horticulturist, as by this knowledge he
can save many q valuable tree. When
one has been transplanted some Of the
roots get injured and the supply of
moisture, in the best cases, is more or
less deficient. Amy dead branch, or any
weak ones, should, therefore, be at once
cut away Gardeners Monthly.
Pruning Shrubs. Monthly
gives in substance the following practi-
cal directions for pruning ornamental
shrubs on the approach of spring: In
discriminate cutting will. not answer the
desired purpose. Distinction must be
made between slow and vigorous grow
ers, and between those which bear flow
ers ON old wood and those which flower
on new growth. Such as grow too strong
to flower we'll should be lightly prnned;
and in the same individual the weaker
shoots should be cut in more severely
than the stronger ones. Lilacs and the
Philadelphus bear flowers on the wood
of last year, and to prune much now de-
stroys the towering; while the Altheas
and others which flower on the young
wood cannot be too severely cut in.