The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-02-07

Pruning m ths Fruit Orchard.
While the winter season is one of
some leisure to the orchardist, it
ought not to be one of entire inactiv-
ity, for their is pruning to he done.
and its proper performance is n mat
ter OF much importance, says Joseph
Meehan in the Country Gentleman.
The young orchard may need but lit
tie hard work, but il 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 il to give good shape to the
future tree. 1t is by judicious work
in this way i'll 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
BILE. Large bearing trees often need
branch is unthrifty, it is better to cut
it out, to induce new, healthy one to
take its place. And where such large
trees have not been well 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 us 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 ont 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 he left to start afresh. The large,
round buds of winter are the ones that
bear the flowers. Sometimes in prun-
ing it is well to observe them, M 1t
sometimes occurs that it is desirable
certain kind should flower the COM
ing season. Bearing trees will often
have their branches brought out of
shape by the weight of fruit. Prune
such crooked branches in such a way
that good outline will be kept up.
Peaches aud apricots are little
pruned, as usually seen, and yet few
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
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 n 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 pear
applies to it very well. 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
OF summer.
In the small fruit line shortening
in of the canes of raspGerries and
black berries should he made, tho
former to about four feet and the lat
ter to five feet. All old canes should
be cut. Currants and gooseberries
need little pruning except to prevent
them carrying too many shoots, and
to keep up a supply of young wood.
The fruit is the best on strong two
year shoots, and the aim must be to
eep up supply of these. The Eng
lish type of gooseberry does not pro-
duce as much wood as our native
sorts; hence needs less pruning. 1
have known old bushes of currants
and gooseberries to be the better for
being cut down completely to the
ground TO give them an entirely new
start. Grapes must be pruned in a
way TO have an abundance of young
wood. There are those who prefer to
have little else besides young canes
from the ground each year. At tho
same time, ii the last years fruiting
cane be well provided with side shoots,
it will prove satisfactory for another
c,op. Prune the side shoots back to
within two or three eyes of ne main
stem. This cutting back decreases
the number of bunches, but adds to
the size of what are produced.
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