Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-11-16

Since our connection with the Fort
Worth GAZETTE we have had several
letters from parties IN Texas stating that
there was something the matter with
their fruit trees-they made magnih-
cent growth in each season, but bore no
fruit. In every case we answered the
letters personally, giving cur opinion i'll
the premises, but keeping the letters out
of our '.Question department for tine
reason, as stated In our personal re-
plies, that we were not entirely satisfied
in our own mind as to what was the
matter. We now have before US an
article in the Practical Farmer which
probably covers the case, and we shall
give its substance as sweeping reply.
The writer states that in all fruits too
great growth of wood cuts off fruitful
ness. In such case, where fruit is de-
sired, the pruning art must be brought
into action. One may work on either the
branches or the roots, or even on both IL
thought necessary. It must be under
stood that when tree is growing fast it
will not fruit. To check the growth is
step towards fruiting, and this is what
pruning is for, TO q great extent. A tree
in rich ground will grow larger and be
longer coming into bearing than one in
poor soil. This is why, with the same
variety of trees, one man may have fruit
from his tree long before his neighbor
has any, even though each should be re-
sorting TO precisely the same character of
management and culture-the soil OF the
two places are not Identical in point of
richness. There is no good sense in long
waiting for tree to bear fruit after it
has attained TO the regular bearing age.
il
something the matter, and our plain
duty lies in finding out what the trouble
is and applying the correct remedy. That
remedy in vigorously growing trees will
usually rest in check OF growth, and
this can always be best reached through
pruning. Root pruning is apt to be the
best remedy. The earth should be dug
away until some of the larger roots are
exposed. and these should be chopped
away. Not many roots need be cut
away-two or three will check the wood
growth for one season. Heavy root
pruning might throw the tree into a
decline.
Slight root pruning performed in fall
or late In summer seldom fails to cause
flower buds TO set and to open the next
spriug, and to be followed By develop
ment of fruit in q fruit season. In most
cases the fruit buds will set anyway,
even should there be no pruning, and
the flowers will open oil right the next
spring, but when the vigorous and I'M
checked tree starts off on the spring
growth the fruit will be starved and Will
soon fall as q result. 1t will probably |
fall before attaining to size sufficient to
be noticeable on the tree.
Sometimes summer pruning of the |
branches will have the same effect. The |
cutting off of the ends of growing shoots |
is done while the cap is still active and |
where cut, flower buds will often form. |
This way will do where some fruit is |
looked for to test a sort, but it is, some-
times, at the expense of the shape of the |
tree, and is not 10 be recommended as so |
good way as that of root pruning.
Too great formation of wood is not |
an uncommon thing with fruit trees in
Texas, especially if those trees were OBJ
tanned from some distant nursery located |
in region of naturally poorer land than
ours. On this account Texas grown
trees are invariably the safest
trees TO risk. They are naturalized to
of Texas soils and therefore
are not near so apt to start off with an
unnatural wood growth when trausplanted
to where they are to stay.