The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-08-25

itate picking operations; and to bear
regular and uniform crops, without
over taxing the energies of the tree.
Is this result to be produced by trees
planted at 6X6 #. apart, 1910 TO one
acre and topped at fl. or in those
set out at 8x8 #. apart, $50 to one acre,
topped at or IT? Will the latter
method produce more crop per acre
than the former? Until this point has
been settled by actual experiment in
Hawaii, the subject of topping, like
that of the distance apart at which
trees should be planted will remain
a debated question, and must be left
TO the intelligence and comon sense
of each individual planter.
TIME Or TOPPING.
We now come to the proper time
and manner in which the operation
should be performed. / have heard
it stated by some planters that a tree
should not be topped until it has grown
considerably above the height required
in order to allow time for the formation
of the bark. For my part, l cannot
see the force of such an argument
If one were to wait for the formation
of bark on the wood which has to be
removed by pruning and handling,
these operations could not be per-
formed at all. What applies in one
case will not certainly do so in the
other. The proper time therefore
to perform the operation, is when the
tree has arrived at the desired height,
or say six inches above, when it can
be easily accomplished with the knife,
or shipped with the shears. The idea
of leaving on two or three feet of I'M
necessary wood, is not only a loss
- l.rY4 ~ oIe. 10 -
siderable waste of energy, in producing
and maintaining a mass of useless
branches which eventually must be re-
moved.
Topping is performed in two ways
either by cutting the top and one pri-
mary, or by the removal of the top and
two primaries Immediately above the
height selected, thus leaving about six
inches of stem terminating in the form
of a cross. In either case, the object of
cutting the primaries is to prevent the
subsequent splitting of the trees. The
practice of merely cutting off the top of
tree should never be resorted to, as
such a course will invariably result in
the splitting of the first pair of prima-
ries, which can only be remedied by |
sacrificing the height of the tree, in re- |
topping below the damaged stem.
EFFECTS OF TOPPING.
The first effects of topping will be
noticed in the tree attempting to re-
sumo it's former dimensions by the pro-
duction of a number of vertical shoots
or suckers, from the axis of the pri-
maries, and from the butts of the trees.
The removal of these constitutes the
first operation in handling, and should
be attended to as soon as they make
their appearance; for if allowed to re-
main until developed to considerable
size, they not only rob the tree of it's
vitality, but will require the knife for
their disposal. The suckers should be
taken off by hand as soon as they have
sprOuted, and this operation should be
repeated from time to time until they
cease to grow. The knife or shears
should never require to be resorted to
on a we'll managed plantation for at
best they only encourage a further
growth.
Handling consists, in addition to the
suppression of suckers, as above de-
scribed, in the removal of all second
aries, tertiarieS, etc., not intended for
the production of the following years
crop. 1t also comprises the systematic
reduction of all growth within ra-
dius, of say, six inches from the stem
of the tree, from top to bottom, to adj
the air. This work must be carried
out at stated intervals, and should be (
done when the secondaries are quite
small, by the aid of the hands only
when they can be removed carefully
without injury to the bark. If from
any cause this work has been neglect
ed, and the secondaries have attained
a length of six inches or more, they
should be removed with the knife, and
not wrenched of by hand, which process
will most assuredly strip off portion
OF the bark from the primary and |
damage the tree. +
AS 30 how many landings may be
necessary during the year, and when
this work should first be commenced; as
already stated, is a matter which must ,
be decided by the indication of the :
trees themselves. In some cases, with ,
the exception of the removal of suckers
secondaries and all terti-
aries, no handling of any proportions
may be required until after topping
and the first pruning. ,
Some planters maintain as the maid
EN- crop is, or should be produced on !
the primaries, that all secondaries, etc, :
should be removed as soon as they d.
make their appearance, and not allowed
TO grow at all while the first crop is .
If such a plan be strictly
adhered to and maintained, where do
planters who advocate such course,
expect to harvest the crop in the year
for all pruning operations |
are carried with a view of producing
each successive crop on new wood. As
have stated before, no hard and fast
rules can be laid down for such works G
but each individual planter must rely 1
upon his own judgment and common I
sense. q
If it should be the case that trees in L
I certain district, from elevation and
an excessive rainfall, have a tendency 6
% run to wood, and produce a mass of t
;ecOndaries and tertiaries, and the b
planter is satisfied that a loss of vital i
ty is taking place with a sacrifice of 7
crop; then under such circumstances, b
/ judiciOus suppression of the second [
,ria 10Th Il 10