Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-06
THE RANCHES.


by the fruit grower-those who are in
the business for proft-should be done
with the nicely and precision OF a pro-
fessional in his speciality. The time for
each operation, from the plowing of the
land to the final harvesting and banking
of the proceeds, should be done at the
proper time. There is pruning and
pruning, but allow me to call the read
gr's attention to few general observa-
ions, and not to details. The latter |
will endeavor to illustrate in a future
article on the subject.
To properly prune tree, bush or vine,
is a most delicate operation, and is one
OF the most important works of the fruit
grower. The operator should be as skill
full in his work as the surgeon is in his.
Correct pruning is one of the most inn
portant operations, while poor pruning
is among the most mischievous opera
tions that can take place IN the entire
range of fruit culture.
When the branch or limb of a tree is
cut off, the sap that would have gone to
support that part is taken up by the
parts still remaining. II the leading
bud OF branch is stopped, the lateral
buds which would otherwise have been
dormant are made to sprout forth and
ii a growing branch is sho--Sned, then
the lowest buds, which seldom push, are
brought into action. Hence the neces-
sity in pruning-of cutting useless
branch out; otherwise the removal OF
one branch is only the cause of the pro-
duction OF great many others.
This effect of stopping does not always
take place Immediately. Sometimes its
first effect is to cause an accumulation
of sap IN branch, which directs itself
to the remaining buds and organizes
them for future year. In ordinary
cases it is thus that spurs or short bear
ing branches are produced in great
abundance.
The effect produced upon one part by
the abstraction of another part, thus
shown in the development OF buds
which would otherwise have remained
dormant, is seen in many other ways.
Ii all the fruit of a plant is abstracted
one year when just forming, the fruit
will be finer and more abundant the
succeeding year. If of many blooms
only one is left, that one, fed by the sap
intended for another, becomes much
AASIs Ii OlC ldbC HSS3 WAlCh IL
ever ripen, were removed, the early figs
next wear would be numerous and much
larger.
II of the unequal branches the
stronger is shortened and stopped in it's
growth, the other becomes stronger;
and this is one of the most useful facts
connected with pruning, because it en-
ables skillful cultivator to equalize the
rate of growth of all parts of the tree;
and this is one of great Importance.
Nothing is to be more strictly guarded
against than the disposition to bleed,
which occurs in some plants when
pruned, weakening them very much,
and in some cases producing their
death. This should be prevented, and
the careful pruner will at the time apply
some preventive. A good solution is
gum shellac and alcohol, of the consist
ency of paste, to be put on with brush.
The only way to avoid it is to prune
after the sap has we'll begun to flow, for
after time the leaves become so great
that they take all the sap, and bleeding
does not take place when the wound is
inflicted. One of the first things to be
thought of is the nature of the plant to
be treated, and the manner in which its
habits may make special course of
trimming necessary. All trees should
be pruned, if pruning is necessary, at
the proper time, and not at the conven-
fence of the operator; and too much
pruning should be avoided rather than
too little.
Prune for growth and symmetry, for
air and sunshine, to produce the most
fruit-but not at the expense of quality
with next years crop in view and the
many years in the future.
The owner of an orchard cannot exer-
else more judgment in any one operation
connected with his orchard than with
pruning. George Rice in California
Cultivator.
FORCED ORANGE GROWTH.
Kirk Munroe said, two or three years
ago: There is a long and hungry gap
between piney woods and bearing or
ange grove" 1t was true, too, at that
time, but the gap has been partly
brldged by budding, and now it is to be
half filled up by new method of propa-
CATION, for which we are indebted to
Mr.. William M. Rowell of Fort Meade,
who will be remembered as the inventor
Of the lightning budder."
Mr.. Rowell's process is almost start
ling in its novelty, yet it is very simple.
Briefly stated. it is about as follows:
Cuttings one-fourth to one-half inch in
diameter and ten to twelve inches long
are taken from any healthy citrus tree,
and buds of any desired variety are put
i'll them. This is done in the house or
barn. and as the cuttings are budded
they are placed in boxes and lightly COW
cred with dirt. There they remain till
wanted for planting The cuttings will
form roots, but the bud will remain dor
mant until the cuttings are transplant
ed, whether that be three weeks or
three years.
When planted in grove form, the cut
tings are placed in vertical position if
seeding trees are to be initiated, or in
an almost horizontal position if it be
the growers intention to plant close and
produce small trees; and when the OBJ
ject is to dwarf the trees the cuttings
are almost inverted. In either case the
cutting is entirely covered with dirt, ex-
cept the portion occupied by the bud,
which is protected by small cylinder
OF zinc, two or three inches long, which
is fitted to the cutting and protrudes
through the soil, giving light and air to
the bud. This is removed, however,
wien the bud attains height of ten or
twelve inches, and the soil is then
drawn up around the bud. The subse-
quent cultivation is the same as trees
propagated in the usual way. Mr.. Row
ell has patent on the tube.
Nou5 for rac,,itc Nv Rnunll has q |