Connecticut western news., 1884-04-16
Pruning the Trees.
BY HENRY STEWART.

Pruning is one of the skilled arts of the orchard. When we examine the point of branch of young tree we find there a strong bud, from which vigor- ous new growth always starts, prolong- ing the branch unduly. The vegetative vigor of the tree concentrates in these terminal buds, and unless it is checked all the buds below it remain dormant or merely throw out each single leaf. If this growth is continued for few years there will be a number of long slender, weak branches hardly able to support their own weight. To prevent this, these young shoots, or in younger tree the main stem, must be cut back one- third or one-haf the length to a strong bud on the outside of the branch. The whole strength of the sap will then be directed to these buds that were pre- viously dormant, and which are thus ex cited to new growth. They then pro- duce new wood and leaves, and send new layers of woody fibre to the stem, which thus increases rapidly in diameter, so that by the time the branches have reached their former length the stem and the lower part of the branches have been considerably strengthened. Theleaf buds are also forced by the larger supply of ] sap to develop into fruit buds, in still older trees, and thus fruitfulness is has tened by directing the sap from the pro- duction of wood to that of fruit. This same result is produced upon any weak branches whose growth has been checked by the exhaustive flow of sap to the stronger ones, and by cutting these back the current is diverted to the weaker parts, and the balance of the whole of the tree Is equalized.
 Sometimes young trees arc stunted and make very slow growth, the sap vessels becoming contracted, and the whole tree appearing dormant. By prun- ing back such trees the whole force of the sap Is concentrated in the few buds left; these are stimulated into active new growth, and throw out leaves and vigor- ous young shoots, and these in turn send down new woody matter to the stem, and to form new roots, and in this way the whole tree is renewed and invigorated.
 Pruning of young trees may also be controlled very much by pinching, and the tree-grower will be able to greatly change the direction of growth by pinch ing off the buds and young, tender shoots that are forming in undesirable places, and thus force the growth where it will be more serviceable. In this way much after use of the knife will be avoided. Some trees are tardy bearers, and are naturally given to producing wood and leaves in great profusion. This is un favorable to the production of fruit. II regard to this point the time of pruning is as important as the manner, for it ii only after vegetation has begun tha this change ill the direction of the sal can be made, and when tree is severel. pruned just after the leaves have beer put forth the formation of wood is pre- vented, the tree is checked, and thos' | are stunted in their growth and take tn, form of fruit spurs. On the other hand some trees are too profuse bearers, an, become covered with fruit spurs, whicl produce bloom and fruit and exhaus the vitality of the tree, so that it fails t make new shoots and leaves and adds t
 its woody substance. This evil avoided by pruning to stimulate WOO
 growth, which is by cutting back earl
 in the season and before the leaves az
 pear, so as to force the buds to mak new wood. Thus the cultivator of a
 orchard has it in his power to train hi
 trees from the very first, to form thei
 shape, to direct their growth, to proven waste of vital force and substance b avoiding unnecessary production ( wood, to check exhaustive fruit bearin of some and to stimulate fruit -bearin in other kinds, and all his work is don by virtue of the simple principles her , set forth.