Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-02-08
Pruning in the Fruit Orchard


Pruning in the Fruit Orchard.
While the winter season is one oil
some leisure to the orchardist, it
ought not to be enc of entire inactiv-
ity. for their is pruning to he done,
and Its proper performance is 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 its 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. 1t is by iudicious 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 practice
bic. Large bearing trees often need
no pruning Sometimes, where
branch is unthrifty, it is better to cut
1t out, to induce new, healthy one to
take its 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 it
makes more branches when young, it
needs closer attention at that time.
Very often good-sized trees are seen
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
a tendency to do this is when they are
quite small. Cut them off close to
the limb they start from, that no buds
will be left to start afresh. The large,
round buds of winter are the ones that
bear the flowers. Sometimes in prun-
ing it is we'll to observe them, as il
sometimes occurs that it is desirable
a certain kind should flower the com,
ing season. Bearing trees will often
have their branches brought out oil
shape by the weight of fruit. Pruns
such crooked branches in such a way
that good outline will be kept up.
Peaches and apricots are little
fruit trees are more benefited by it.
Should there be no young wood there
will be no fruit. Left to grow as they
will, which is the usual way, what lit.
tie young growth is made is at the ex.
tremity of long branches. Pruned a
little every year, there is young wood
over all the tree, from near the ground
to the top. Do not let strong shoots
go unpruned. Not only is little
pruning good; that of summer, per
formed while growth is still going on,
is perhaps better. In regard to the
plum, what has been said of the pea,
applies to it very we'll. Keep the
branches from getting too thick.
Fewer branches, permitting of more
air and light to the remainder, would
bring better fruit to many tree
Watch the plum. to cut out diseased
branches as soon as seen, be it winter
or summer.
In the small fruit line shortening
in of the canes of raspberries anG
blackberries should be made, th.
former to about four feet and the lat
ter to five feet. All old canes should
be cut. Currants and gooseberriei
need little pruning except to prevent
them carrying too many shoots, ant
to keep up supply of young wood,
The fruit is the best on strong two
year shoots. and the aim must be tt
keep up supply of these. The Eng
lish type of gooseberry does not pro
duce as much wood as our nativ,
sorts; hence needs less pruning.
have known old bushes of currant,
and gooseberries to be the better fo.
being cut down completely to tn.
ground to give them an entirely new
start. Grapes must, be pruned in
way to have an abundance of youn,
wood. There are those who prefer t.
have little else besides young cane
from the ground each year. At thl
same time, if the last years fruitihii
cane be we'll provided with side shoots
it will prove satisfactory for anothe
crop. Piune the side shoots back t.
within two or three eyes of the mai,
stem. This cutting back decrease,
the number of punches, but adds tt
the size of what are produced.
To onahla a ,,oraou to Aoot -, Al.