The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-10-13
Weeh1n Corvallis Gazfttf.
AGRICUL ULTURAL.
The Pm losophy of Pruning.

rations connected with the manage
ment of orchards and ,vinyards, as n
ste of rules or principles can De given
which will enable persons acquainte,
with the principles of vegetabl
growth, to become successful prac
titioners. A tree is not simple in
dividual organism like a horse o
man, but it is composed of a numbe
of individuals, sometimes amountin.
to many millions, each one being
able under favorable circumstance
to maintain its own existence, no
only when in connection with, bu
when separated from the community
in which it was; or, it may be easily
transferred to another society, anG
will there grow and produce its kline
in undiminished vigor. Hence, fol
any one to tell on paper the proper
:ime to prune trees and vines unde,
all circumstances, would be a task
which has never yet been accomplish
ed, and which we do not expect to
perform: in this place. But it is not
difficult to state what effects follow
pruning at given period when dit
frrent parts of tree or vine is prun-
ed. The pruner should have per-
feet understanding of what he de-
sires to do by pruning. Before he
sewers a single bud he should thor
oughly understand the flowing of
sap. There is no chance of correct
ing a bad mistake in pruning; for if
one pinches off bud that should re-
main it will be ruinous to the form of
the tree.
It's practice with a great many
persons, who have the management Of
orchards, to allow the trees to grow
at random for several years and then
to walk in with an ak and saw and
remove half of the branches. There
never was more ruinous practice
than this to trees of any kind; and
there never was a more grievous er-
ror promulgated than to allow asbush
or tree to grow at its own pleasure
for few years, and then give it
thorough and severe pruning. The
ruinous consequence of such pruning
is manifest whenever we see trees
treated in this way. The trunks are
decaying; and where large branches
cut off, the wounds were 80 great
that nature could not heal them.
When trees have been treated in
this way we can never aid nature in
making them strong and vigorous.
a branch is severed from
a tree or vine, there should be good
reason for SO doing.
THINGS TO BE KEPT IN VIEW WHILE
PRUNING.
First, plants obtain food through
heir roots from the ground, and
he leaves obtain food from the air.
second, the leaves and bark are the
tomach of the plants. The plants
ligest the food in the leaves and
,reen bark. In removing leaves
rom plants care should be taken to
cave enough to digest the food.
Third, leaves and bark exhale water.
\ sunflower three feet high gives off
hlrty ounces of water in twenty.four
hours. Fourth, sap has a tendency
o flow to the extremities of the
branches. Fifth, the sap gets richer
s it flows through the cells to the
'pper portion of the branch. Sixth,
fter the frost in the fall, the sap does
lot go to the extremities of the
branches, but is deposited in the
'ody of the tree. Seventh, buds de-
elop sooner on branches cut short
han on branches cut long. Eighth,
ghen the sap is abundant and weak
produces wood, and when strong
produces fruit. Ninth, sap flows
aster in perpendicular branch:
ence the tree grows faster. Tenth,
he fruit decreases as the sap increas-
$. 10 make thrifty tree bear we'll ,
re should shorten the branches.
'leventh, to increase the amount of
ap is to increase the size of fruit.
welfth, different plants bear their {
uit on wood of various ages. Some (
ear fruit on wood that is formed
lat year, as the fig; some on wood &
lat is one year old, as the peach: q
nd some on wood that is two wears
Id, as the apple and pear.
The parts of plants are formed in I
'e following order: Roots first. /
ems second, leaves, branches and r
ossoms afterwards. .......-
OBJECTS GAINED IN PRUNING, Ii
First, prune to promote the growth.
'cond, to check the growth. Third f
cure disease and srs off all diseased I o
'rtions. Fourth, to shorten the