The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-02-22
Pruning In the Erult Orchard.

While the winter season Is oue VI
some leisure to the orchardist, 1t
ought not to be one of entire inactlv-
ity, for their is pruning to be done'
and its proper performance is a mat
ter of much Importance. says Joseph
Meehan in the Country Gentleman:
The young orchard may need but lit
tie hard work, but it will need much
head work, for on it's proper treat
ment now will depend whether or not
it is to afford pleasure and profit IN
after years.
The young apple orchard needs lit
tie more than the thinning out OF
branches where they are too thick,
and the shortening in of others that
may need it to give good shape to the
future tree. It'is by judicious work
in this way in the early years OF an
orchard that well-formed, beautiful
trees are developed. There is no
gain in having branches too low.
Prune them up to five or six feet, that
getting about under them is practics-
Bile. Large bearing trees often need
no pruning. Sometimes, where a
branch is unthrifty, it is better to cut
it out, to induce q new, healthy one to
take it's place. And where such large
trees have not been we'll pruned when
young, there may be large limbs which
need cutting out that others may be
benefited. When such is the case,
saw off close to the trunk, and paint
the scar to prevent decay:
Much the same rules apply to prun-
ing the pear as to the apple, but as II
makes more branches when young, 1t
needs closer attention at that time:
Very often good-sized trees are seer
with far too many branches on them:
The tendency of almost all pruners is
to leave too many branches. Do not
let them interlace each. other. The
time to cut them out when they show
tendency to do this is when they are
quite small. Cut them off close te
the limb they start from, that no buds
will be left to start afresh. The large
round buds of winter are the ones tha
bear the flowers. Sometimes in prun
ing it is we'll to observe them, as 1
sometimes occurs that it is desirable
a certain kind should flower the com
ing season. Bearing trees will Otter
have their branches brought out o
shape by the weight of fruit Prun
such crooked branches in such wa.
that good outline will be kept up.
Peaches and apricots are littl
pruned, as usually seen, and yet fe,
fruit trees are more benefited by it
J Should there be no young wood ther
will be no fruit. Left to grow as the
will, which is the usual way, what lit
tie young growth is made is at the e1
tremity of long branches. Pruned
little every year, there is young WOO
over all the tree, from near the groun
to the top. Do not let strong shoot
90 unpruned. Not only is a littl
pruning good; that of summer, pei
formed while growth is still going or
is perhaps better. In regard to tn
plum, what has been said of the pea
applies to it very we'll. Keep th
branches from getting too thicf
Fewer branches, permitting Of MOI
air and light to the remainder, woql
bring better fruit to many a tre'
Watch the plum. to cut out disease
branches as soon as seen, be it winte
OF summer.
In the small fruit line shortenin
in of the canes of raspberries an
blackberries should be made, tt
former to about four feet and the la
ter to five feet. All old canes shoul
be cut. Currants and gooseberrit
need little pruning except to prevel
them carrying too many shoots, an
to keep up a supply of young WOO
The fruit is the best on strong tw
year shoots. and the aim must be
eep up supply OF these. The En-
lish type of gooseberry does not pr
duce as much wood as our natl
; sorts; hence needs less pruning.
} have known old bushes of curran
and gooseberyies to be the better +
being cut down completely to Il
J ground to give them an entirely ne
start. Grapes must be pruned in
way to have an abundance of youl
wood. Thsre are those who prefer
, have little else besides young can
, from the ground each year. At Il
, same time, if the last years fruitil
cane be we'll provided with side shoot
it will prove satisfactory for anoth
, crop. Prune the side shoots back
within two or three eyes of the ma
} stem. This cutting back decreas
, the number of bunches, but adds
the size of what are produced.