The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-10

Intelligent tree treatment is just as es-
sential for our orchard trees as for the
mangnlfcent shade trees around our
houses or in the streets. The popularity
given to arboriculture during the last few
years has had the effect of calling public
attention to the needs Of trees, and there
have sprung up in various parts of the
country practical tree growers who are
doing wonders in showing the people what
can be accomplished through the applica-
ton of intelligent methods Of cultivation.
We ara at last getting symmetrically
shaped shade and street trees. fine forest
and timber trees, and even good fruit
trees.
One of the first essentials of good tree
culture IS 10 understand the general shape
OF the tree under culture. A pear tree
does not take the shape of an apple,
peach or forest tree any more than a maple
assumes the style Of growth of a horse
chestnut, hickory or beech. Consequently
we cannot prune all trees alike. The
growth OF a greening tree is very differ
ent from that OF a northern spy, and the
Sickle pear trees are entirely different IN
shape from the SheldJns or ANXIOUS. We
want well-shaped fruit trees, put we d.
not want To deform them by pruning
own. Given the natural shape Of the tree
i IS Wei then TO stick as close TO the
general type 6s possible. That i the
shoots and branches that are abnormal
should Be clipped of while very young.
1t should never b. necessary u cut off
large limbs. for the young twigs should
be pruned before they have assumed any
such slza. The rule IS that large limbs
should be cut off, or need u be cut off,
only when they have been broken acct
4 mr. ST 4tf ltv-
There is school of tree culturists VIZ
oppose pruning in all of its branches.
They are righ1 in 50 far as excessive
pruning IS concerned. Disturbing should
largely take -he place OF pruning on
small shrubs and saDlinss. and clipping
of tWigJ on trees with a sharp huite
should he about all that the latter ought
u require. suckers, of course must be
cut away, and sometimes the inside OF
the head of .ha tree Will need CLEANING
out. The growers Of Florida clean
out the inside Of the heads of the trees
If they expect a good crop of fruit, ana
in this way the sun gets u all parts II
the tree The same plan would wor.S
successfully with many of our thick
headed nOrthern fruit trees.
Many of our apple pear and Other
fruit trees are apt u form a hollow at the
junction Of two large limbs and very
frequently water collects there and Causes
rot. one of the limbs in time gives Nav
and ruins the tree. The same is true
where large limbs have been cut Oft. In
an old orchard every tree VIII have large
hOllOwS like this where owls and other
birds build their nests. Whole limos are
eaten out and frequently the very heart
of the tree. This is one Of the results
of the evil Of pruning off large trees. II
they have to be cut off after being
broken accidentally it Is we'll 10 saw
them close 10 the trunk and starr
graft immediateiy SO as to give the water
no chance to collect Where a hollow is
inclined to start in the crotch of tree
an ingeniOusly grated branch can h
started there, 50 as to fin up the space
In this way many fine old trees will De
saved from premature dec1N