Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-05-08
AGRICULTURAL MATTERS.
ORChAhD TREATMENT.
Less Pruning and More Manurtag-
Practical views Of a Farmer.


Less Pruning and More Manuriag-
Practical views Of a Farmer.
A practical farmer aud fruit grower has
been giving the Chambersburg, Pa, Valley
Spirit some hints on I nit growing. He
ssys'
'On taking young tree from the
nursery it is generally divested OF nearly
all its fibrous roo,s, through which the
nes has been drawing its nourishment
from the soil. In suoh cases We find il
profitable to out back the branches 10 in
sure the life and growth of the young
tree. We do this in compliance with
natures law Of correspondence. Nature,
true 10 this law, preserves the proportion
Of quantity between root aud top hence,
after cutting away large par, OF the root,
We must make corresponding reduction
Of the top by cutting back the branches
otherwise there would be a lack OF nutri.
ment from beneath and the excessive
vsrdurs could not bs maintained, but
must lsnguish or die"
"Prom this experience" he continued,
''soine are led 10 the corc.usion that
much aud continued pruning strengthens
the growth and vitality OF the tree, than
which there is no more fatsl error. Con-
tinued pruning dwaris and kills. The
Usage orange in its native state grows TO
the size Of Iolersble tree, so large that the
trunks are used for building houses, but
when used for fencing and cut back every
year it becomes more dwsrfed and loses
vitality AT every cropping until 1t dies,
All this follows strictly in accordance
with natures law, that the roots will die
in proportion as the branches are cut of.
Many orchards are permanently injured
by the severing Of large limbs from the
trunk and divesting the tres Of = large
part OF Its verdure, or more properly iii
hfe."
In reply to the question, "Are no
many trees killed by unskilled hands en-
gagged in pruning rather than the fact o
the pruning itseltS" He said "Fhe foil.
Of employing unskilled and inexperienced
hands to trim fruit trees is we'll illus
trsted by the story of the farmer, who O.
leaving one morning il early spring tol
his man, who had been hired the day b,
fore, to trim up his apple trees. Ga h
return in the evening he inquired OF h
workman how many trees he ha
trimmed. To his surprise he was irankl
told by the man that he was not yet qui,
done with the cutting down of the .re'
and that the trimming would be done c
the morrow. Though We may not el
counter the ignorance that would resu
in such wholesale killing OF the trees,
1t not fact that the hand Of destructit
is too often at work, sloughing of lar
limbs near the trunk and thus endange
iug the life of the tree :"
But let it not be inferred that prunii
is unnecessary" he said. 'Fiom t
first cutting back at planting the atten
ant should examine his Trees every spri
with reference to the formation of th'
tops and take out such branches s3 Won
be an interference, allowing no ms
limbs than the failure tree should ha'
30 that there will be no need for croppi
limbs in after years. Sap shoots shot
be carefully taken of. And let II
borne In mind that nothing so much
oourxges the growth OF sap shoots as
cutting out OF large limbs, the I
intended to nourish the branches that
separated spending itself in the prod
tion OF wild shoots"
When asked to what extent prun
should be indulged in, he replied :"
pruning be studied with reference to
formation OF the top when the tre'
young and the branches amsll, wi
only slight wounds will be effected,
to keep the tree unenoumDered with
shoots, bearing in mind always THAI
cessive pruning will kill the tree.
the owners OF orchards apply more
and ashes with Plentiful supply of b
yard manure to nourish and inviso
the trees and there will be All impr,
ment in the quantity and quality OF
iruit.''