Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-17
FARM and FRUIT.
METHODS AND SEASONS FOR
PRUNING OF FRUIT TREES.
Flights OF Fruit-growers-Va of
Silos-OvercomingP hyllOxera
Various Notes.-The.
TIE s1rR1pcr OLE PRUNING.

resulting from close observation and expe-
rience. The methods suitable at points in
the East may have no adaptability here.
No general rule, in fact, could be laid
down fog fruit-growers of California, for
the variation in climate and soils between
different localities would render what is
suitable in one section injurious if not dis
astrous. in another There are general
principles, of course, pertaining to the
natural result of certain treatment, as for
producing high or low-set top to trees,
etc, which are applicable for any locality,
but as to the methods of pruning which
shall produce the best results for durable
tree wood and good fruiting, the experience
of an established, painstaking, leyel-headed
fruit-grower of any locality is of far more
practical value for following, in his vicin-
ity, than any number of bound volumes
upon the subject gathered from writers in
other parts of the world. The grower
should, however, make himself intelligent
As to the methods pursued in different
localities and countries, for all such know
ledge acquired renders the producer better
the master of his vocation, and capable of
adopting or blending the various plans as
his growing experience or the changes in
seasons and circumstances shall seem to
point out for best results. This being the
season of year when much pruning is done
in this State, the fruit-grower, and espec-
iallv those who have recently begun in
the business, should proceed cautiously
and intelligently in the matter
4 correspondent of the Anaheim Gazette
has published his experience upon the sub
iect, in which he says: Almost every one
knows that the sap of the tree rises from
the roots to the branches in the spring and
descends to the roots again as winter APP
pr9aches. This knowledge should form
our fundamental rule for pruning Nature
has put il in our power to strengthen or to
weaken tree, Just as we see it necessary.
Every branch of q tree cut or shortened
during the months of April or November
means loss Of sap or a weakening of the
tree; every pruning of the branches in the
winter months adds vigor to the growth OF
the tree In our perfect climate the sap of
the tree is supplied in such an enormous
quantity that we have in almost every in
stance to treat the trees with the intention
of weakening them, or in other words, We
have to prune in summer. The proper
time of summer pruning is when the
first new growth of wood has reached
about one-half Of its probable length-the
l. Of Tho -
in cutting off one-third of the new growth.
The result is that a tree pruned in this
manner stops growing for two or three
weeks but the sap instead Of forming
wood is developing fruit buds for the COM
ing season on the last years growth. 9th
erwise they would stay dormant for the
next two or three days. This is especially
the case with apricot trees. The second
pruning should be given in the winter
when the leaves have fallen. This second
pruning makes it possible for the orchard
ist to give the tree the proper shape, and
regulate by either longer or shorter prun-
ing its future growth-short pruning to be
applied on trees of poorer growth to slim
rlate them; long pruning on vigorous
growers to check their growth. The
apple tree of this country is apt to grow
very wild, but to bear very little, espe-
ciallv on irrigated soil of sandy loan. l
found root-pruning the best remedy, while
top-pruning in winter time only increased
the evil. The surplus suckers and branches
must he removed during the summer. Some
of orr farmers make great mistakes in
pruning They have q superficial knowl
edge Of it and do more harm than good.
They prune, for instance, a vigorous april
cot tree late in the fall or winter very
severely The result is plenty of wood
and leaves, hut no fruit. Or, they prune d
siclly tree very little, so as not to inter
fere with its appearance, as compared with
the adjoining trees. In this case the tree
must supply with its little sap all its I'M
clipped branches and the result is the tree
gets weaker, don't bear, and the difference
between it and It's neighbor becomes only
more striking the next year. In pursu-
ance of nay theory, | will finally add that
1t Is of great benefit to give trees that have
horn heavily a very severe winter-pruning
RIGHTS OF FRUIT-GRowERs.
When fruit trees are neglected, crowded
and abandoned, they not only cease to bear
fruit. but generate contagious diseases,
which spread to the other trees and
orchards like the seeds of the Canada
thistle and soon desolate a whole section
q country, some Of whose orchards may
have been kept in prime condition. This
suggests the necessity of some legal rene
dies such as the enforcement OF sanitary
regulations among fruit-growers as are at
tempted in the relations Of human society
The horticultural societies should take the
matter in hand with vigor, and bring such
influence to bear upon the lawmakers as to
be able to cause the destruction Of every
tree and orchard affected with any Of these
fruit and fruit-tree infections. A man has
No more right to keep pest-field of cot
tony cushion, scale-hug, phvlioxera or
Canada thistle than he has to keep pest
house Of smallpox, yellow fever or cholera
or his private grounds in the midst IF his
folow-beings.- san Bernardino Index.
VALUE OF sILos.
The extraordinary success reported in
England in regard to the silo 600 having
been built there last season, and the very
favorable showinss made of them in the
journals, together with the discovery Of
what is known as sweet ensilage" in this
country, will call renewed attention to this
system of preserving the coarser folders Of
the farm The excessive acidity generated
was against the silo at first and the sup
posed need Of a great army of men and
teams 20 put in box full each day, but
the CHANGING upon sweet ensilage has OBJ
waited all this, and the ordinary help of
the farm is now found sufficient The fill
ing of the -ilo should he very slow, so that
each DAVIS filing can remain At least two
DAYS exposed to the air to heat Then
when another layer Is put on the first cools
down and does not again show ierment, and
thus escapes the tactic acid stage, or sharp,
strong taste Of vinegar noticed when the
siio is shut up at once, and the acid devel-
oped at low temperature. DR.. Noelgkar
sf England, has made most thor
oush examination OF the more re-
cent WAYS Of filling the silo, and from
y scientific standpoint pronounces the en-
sillge all that need be asked for, the feed
whom t.kcn from The pit showing texture