The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-05-03
TO TILIERS OF THE SOIL
Hints That May Prove Of Benefit 10
Our AeIghbOTs'
Articles Of unduubed Worth 10 the Farmer, Collected
From Reliable Sources
PRUNING ORCHARDS.

pruning OF orchards. While we are
aware that there is considerable diff
ference of opinion regarding the question
OF pruning due largely no doubt to loca
conditions and differing experiences
there are some general rules that may
be observed with success in most parts
Of the country at least. Some good or.
chardists, ii asked when is good time
to prune an orchard will unhesitatingly
answer "Now." This, however, merely
emphasizes the conceded necessity to
/ prune, rather than affords technical in
formation.
In relation to this very important
matter of pruning we herewith present
the views OF some OF the most extensive
and successful fruit-growers in Cali
fornia:
Mr.. j. II. Flickinger, of San Jose,
whose fruits are well known says
81 commence pruning Immediately
after gathering my last fruit that is the
Salway peaches, which is about the Goth
OF October. l prune my apricot trees
first, then the prunes and follow with
the peaches. My gang Of primers gem
orally finish their work by March LIST,
and the pruning together with my winter
irrigation and thorough cultivation up
m lima hn,n Co., ;,,,,,,,I
each year. | have no experience in
pruning apricots Immediately after the
fruit is harvested, but some OF my
neighbors who have, claim tits beneficial
to do so in order to be certain of crop
for the ensuing year.
l find that the average fruit-grower
wants to produce all the fruit possible
on his trees regardless OF the preserva-
ton of the trees and OF future crops. To
Illustrate: | bought OF one grower 100
tons OF peaches for canning, to measure
~ inches in diameter. Daring the
season | advised him to 20 over the
trees once more and thin out the fruit
taking off at least one-halt of it. The
reply was that the trees were all right
and were thinned out sufficiently. Now
how many tons OF peaches do you think
he delivered at my factory? Only tons
out OF the 100 tons contracted for
Prune trees in the Santa Glars valley
will in = few years be in bad condition
ii not more carefully trimmed. In nv
travels find many of them that have
been overloaded and whose branches
are very unbalanced until some Of them
lie flat on the ground. and many are
badly broken. Ii persisted in this course
will certainly damage if no: ruin the
trees for future crops. while exhaustiug
the fertility OF the soil in the produc-
tion ofcrops Of small and unsalSble fruit.
l contend that all fruit trees must be
pruned each year TO keep the trees in
proper condition to bear good fruit"
ME-. ROCKS METHODS.
Mr.. John Rock, of Niles, an extensive
orchardist and nurseryman, gives his
methods as follows:
We never prune until the leaves are
nearly all OF. As long as the leaves are
on tree the sap is still active. Removing
large limbs may be done during summer
AS soon as the fruit is gathered. but the
in is better done during
winter when trees are dormant. Large
limbs removed in spring when the tree
IS full OF sap will show decay quicker on
,uts than ii this work be done during
summer. We never pinch back except
when there is danger OF too rapid growth
80 the wind will blow limbs off. Apricots
Ire more subject TO it in the second or
hird year after planting. Newly set
traits on old trees make SO strong a
growth that they break down from this /
'ver weight. These should be topped /
is soon as they attain about two feet of /
growth, the cutting back will make them /
branch out and balance themselves.
Opinions differ about early and late
Any time from December lst
o March LIST will not affect trees much
ither way. (
Many growers in Alameda county
rune their apricots and cherries during
ummer and believe this treatment will !
.eep such trees from cumming during
he following year.
Mr.. sTARK's VIEWS,
Besides the views of Messrs. Flickincer
nd Rock of California, above given. we
ppend those OF Mr.. William Stark, of
he well-known Stark nurseries and or
hards OF Louisiana, Missouri. While
Deal conditions must necessarily affect
he technical work bf orchariists TO
reat degree, We aim to present those
lethods OF most general acceptance as
ointers for our readers in many States
nd countries. 1t will be seen that in
heir general features, the prominent
rchardlsts whose practice We give here
18th, agree substantially in their me-
nods and advice. Mr.. Stark says:
Pruning little at the right time is
equired on almost every tree, but the
perator should know why he prunes in
rder to know where and how to do the
ark. In pruning the top of trees while
ct young, all sharp forks should be
estroyed by cutting out the limb that
IN tie spared, and whenever two pro-
llnent limbs start out from the main