The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-24
Fruit Trees and Pruning.

I often think that amateurs and others
who are inexperienced in fruit culture,
says correspondent of the Garden"
LOndon), must often be in straits whom
to believe when they read of the opposite
opinions held by many practical men as
to the most suitable methods of manipu-
lating fruit trees. These notions have
been prompted of late when read of two
cultlvatorS of peaches expressing their
views, which are so wide apart from each
other. For example, the one almost
ridicules his experienced opponent IN
practice by reason of the latter cutting
out all the wood which has borne fruit
during the past season, allowing that
which remains for next year to have the
full advantage of sun and air caused by
being relieved from crowded foliage.
While the one may be right, the other
may not be wrong, as much of the bud
and fruit dropping is caused by undue
crowding of foliage, which prevents thor
ough ripening. | prefer doing things
somewhat different to either of.the practi-
tioners referred to, allowing no more
wood to remain for next season than is
absolutely necessary. A well placed
shoot is left as near as possible to Che
base of the one which is carrying the
crop, and one shoot takes up the sap, all
others being cleared off. Disturbing is
OlbtD uOll6 DIS SUD DIS Il6 WOOu UuuS
can be picked out with the point of
knife, and the trees thus suffer no check
from disbudding, as they do when foliage
is formed and much young wood has to be
ruthlessly removed. There is another
matter of some Importance labor
is saved by the one shoot system, as the
tying in of shoots becomes only small
item. However, when growers have had
a uniform success in peach growing for
llfntInn
had, strictly adhering to the cut
ting-out system of the wood as soon as it
has fruited, cannot be far wrong, and one
writer need not attack another so furi-
ously because his method of procedure
differs somewhat.
1t is not only on peach pruning that
opinions are SO varied, but all fruit trees
are subject to wide and varied manipula-
ton by cultivators. Apples, pears, sweet
cherries and other fruit trees which are
spue pruned seem capable of bearing
very opposite treatment by primers. Some
recommend leaving them entirely I'M
touched till August, then giving general
pruning, removing the past seasons
growth and exposing the spurs to
the full action of sun and air. Such treat
ment may not be wrong on old or
stunted trees, which make a small
amount of young growth, but l think
when growth is vigorous and thick on
the branches. it is responsible for much of
the canker so often seen on trees grown
on walls as espaliers and as dwarfs in
gardens. | always preferred piecemeal
pruning of wood and roots to maintain
due reciprocity between each short
growth, large foliage being the reward of
such pruning. Going over the trees, say
three times year between spring and
autumn, removing strong outgrowlng
shoots and shortening others, as may
seem necessary. appear to be rational
treatment. Plums, apricots and Morello
cherries [ prefer to go over till all
growths not required for training TO the
walls are removed, well placed natural
spurs being carefully retained. One need
hardly refer to the numerous methods of
pruning recommended as the best for pro-
ducing abundant crops Of bush fruits
Having proved most systems which / have
read or heard of, / can truly say that all
had something to recommend them, but
the crowding and "leave-alone" methods
do not stand high in my opinion. BY lift
ing, replanting and well mulching all
bush fruits, pruning will be little needed