The morning call., 1894-10-23
PRUNING TREES
Some of the Results Noted
in Alameda County.
Curious Effect on Some Trees Caused
by Sulphuring-Wha the Late
Rain Has Done.

1t is really astonishing how ideas change
from wear to year. Five years ago the orchard.
fst who pruned his trees before the leaves were
of was not 10 be found. To-day half the Or
cnards in this valley are pruned, and those who
have not finished pruning are doing their best
10 hurry their work so that they may prupe. 1t
was thought that as soon as the fruit was off
the trees should rest, hence the pruning was
delayed until the middle of winter, January or
December being thought early enough, and
March was not considered too late. There are
so many reasons in favor OF the new way that
il Is rather astonishing IL was not adopted be-
fore. The wood is softer and easier 10 cut
with the sap in it; the tree doe not "beed"; /;
many experienced pruners believe that the cut
heals quicker, leaving no dead wood; the
strength of the tree is huSDauded rather than
expended in keeping green for months useless
foliage. and. finally, lhe comfort 10 the worNer
IS no small matter. The work eau be done as
quick again In good warm fall weather and the
land cleared OF the rubbish much quicker than
when il is cold and muddy and the ground is
leady for the plow as soon as the hrst rams
come.
Pruning is becoming more and more study,
and on tie best ranches only skilled wOrkmen
are employed. 1t dos not do 10 thin out or
Irim back tree until it lOOks neat and Shapely.
Every variety must b. trimmed with knowl.
edge of its fruit-b bearing methods, and believe
That the methods Of pruning are Still 1ar nom
being unGerstood
Every season. when the fruit has well formed,
II has 10 be thiUned. and as much as four hfthS
is often taken OH. More careful pruning with
a more thorough knowledge OF The fruit bear
Ing habits ofeach tree, Will reduce this proper
tion OF useless fruit materially. Therefore it
does not pay, in fac raDcher cannot afford
10 have his orchard pruned by an ordinary
workman.
AS every year we are learning how to prune
Better are also learning new things about
entirely new subjects. 1t was always supposed
that pTunes and almonds needed 10 pTuning-a
mistake; they need as much and as careful
NrnO ha gaRh fna lnn Inan
fruit. They bear better ana larger fruit than
They did under the old system of no pruning;
indeed. many old almond trees that were al
most entirely unpToductive are now, after be-
Ing pruned for TWO years, bearing good regular
sized fIult.
Prune trees are pruned heavily here. as the
soil Is so rich that the trees could not support
The amount or fruit which would form the
spurs. For several years the size of the fruit,
therefore, has been decreasing; the quality. in
fact, being sacrificed 10 quantity, as the
trees Will mature almost all the fruit which
forms. Ii has not been live years since there
were serious discussions in many of our fruit
journals concerning the adyisabity of pruning
pruBe and almond trees The talk was that the
trees would be ruined. just where the old no.
lion arose 1t would be hard 10 say, but II has
been proven false notion.
Every orchard has at least few apple trees
for home Use, but he idea OF selling apples has
not been considered, so The trees have been
more neglected than other fruit trees
which bear the selling crop. 1t is a mistake TO
say that we cannot raise eood apples In the
II.
pIune them carefully. Thin out the fruit if
neceSsary-in fact, give apple trees as good
care as you do any other fruit trees-and The
results Will be even more satisfactory.
The rain of two weeks ago did some little
damage TO the grape crop, which mstured later
Ihan usual this year, and this last rain Will
doubtless ruin all that is nor harvested. The
grapes are of fine quality this year. although
lie crop a rule has been light.
The effects of the sulphur tunes from the
dryer have been curious upon some OF The
trees i'll the nelghbOring orchard. The leaves
from all the walnut trees fell off and an entire
new foliage have formed, making the trees as
fresh and green as IN The spring; The trees have
even made an endeaVOr 10 form new UaSsels a
large late apple tree, too, las ripe apples new
foliage and is covered with blossoms as large
and fragrant as III spring time. What the re-
suit 10 the Irees in the future viii be remains TO
be seen.
Over Two and a half Iuches of rain has fallen
up TO the present writing ana the veget able
men are thinking mat new peas and potatoes
can be IN market by The holidays.
StOckmen on the neighbOrng hills and out in
the valley are not so pleased with sucn early
Iains. Early rains mean short feed, laIe rains
mean late spring feed and therefore cheap pas
turage.
Almonds are all harvested and no fruits re-
main now but apples, pears and late peaches
which, by the way, are unusually fine, but do
not bring fine prices. MRS. J. L. THANE
Niles, October 19, 1894