The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-27

; THE farm and GARDEN ;


~--,s. trees which have attained to
s.-t-V size and have not frIIited can be
- along In the desired way in more
-. than one. The most common way
= ,hss country IS 20 root prune the trees,
-, An Europe II h. the custom TO rely
~-~at deal on summer pruning. This
s-scs is known here but not practiced
= he extent 1t IS IN England. Root prun-
- causes fruitfulness By checking the
s,gor Of the tree. The principle is well un-
s..s.ood among florists and gardeners. as
81 ar By those engaged I'm fruit grow
a. n the florist has a plant he desires
ssculd grow larger instead of towering
- carefully removes all flower buds. and
sslsfs Il into a larger pot. and gives 1T good
s.ed On the other hand II II is growing
.on,inuaIly without Towering and he de-
ssres fl TO flower. he gives 1t but little wa
ssr does not shift IL into q larger pot. but
L.s II become pot bound. In other words
se starves II. Root pruning of trees brings
.hout the same results. IL liz not possible
n follow the florists method or starving
~ plant Root pruning. then. is restored
"a The time 10 do this Is in the fail or
svring. and Il the time allows, Il Ii Just
a. vel done in the early fall as at any
sshsr time. The plan is 10 dig out the
sol In a circle around the tree. chopping
IN many Of the large roots met with in
ne operation. IL is not necessary 10 chop
away ali. II can be pretty well deter
mined by the operator how many 10 cut.
n The object OF the cutting Is kept in
mnd When enough have been severed
70 leave no doubt that the tree VIII feel
The loss Of them. enough Will have been
done. As a guide ] should say that the
etgersng Of two or three quite large roots
would be ample check. IL ia not desired
sAst serious check be given the tree: a
title will suffice. The circle Is to be re-
flied with soil. and the operation IL done
II such work as this be done IN fail or
tpring, the next summer will see the tree
farm flower buds for the next seasons
crop. II rarely fails. This method OF
bringing trees into bearing Is not 10 be
practIced on young trees. There should
Be FIVE or six years allowed such sorts as
apples, pears and piums before looking
Cor fruit. II young trees which have not
completed their growth are checked by
pruning, they might never attain 20 proper
Dimensions. for when fruitlng once COM
mences. wood growth Is rarely Afterwards
what II was before.
The English plan. which consists Of
simmer pruning. Is not done quite in the
sorse root pruning Is. IL Is not 70 make
trees bear which never yet have done 90.
but 70 make bearing trees more fruitful.
Pears. cherries. plums and peaches are
largely grown on garden walls there. and
these trees are trained TO the wall for
shape. And in the fruit garden the same
shape il often maintained, the trees form
ing hedges or boundary lines. as IL were.
In the middle OF summer the gardener
commences at one end OF his wall or line,
and taking tree after tree as he goes, cuts
hack all the shoots OF the present season
10 within two or three eyes OF the base.
leaving intact only such shoots as he re-
auires for filling UP vacant places. As tks
cutting back is done before growth has
stopped. II results I'm pushing into devel-
opment the fruit buds which usually form
AZ the base OF these shoots. or course.
this wholesale cutting away OF young
branches weakens the tree great deal.
The English gardener does not mind this
because he does not want his trees larger
than his wallis VIII accommodate and as
explained before, this weakness throws
the tree into bearing. I would not adj
wise that anything like such severe cut
ting as this should be practiced on our
trees II is. however. an established fact
That u may be practiced in moderation
with good results as regards fruitings T
have had favorable results with recalcIt-
rant trees of this kind Peach trees are
very much benefited by this summer prun-
ing. Some years ago 7 had the personal
management OF a small peach orchard,
which was pruned very nearly IN this
sav. But the pruning was not started for
that object. 7 had in view the keeping
Of the trees hushy. preventing their going
The usual way of peach trees In the neigh
torhood. which was TO have the lower part
Of them bare of branches OF fruit bear
INK character. those OF this description
being only at the top. The young shoots
all over the tree were pinehed off at their
points when about half grown. This caus-
eli side shoots 20 come out. two or three
20 every one which was pinched OFT. Civ
ing IN the fall n tree full OF young shoots
IN all its parts. and all the shoots
full Of flower buds The little check tho
pinch back gave the tree. caused the Tow
er buds 10 set thickiy and the following
prring all the trees in the orchard were
abundantly supplied with flowers.-Joseph
Meehan I'm Practical Farmer.