The Western news. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1890-1977, 1907-01-23
PRUNE YOUR TREES
In THE MONTH
OF JUNE
AND AT NO OTHER TIME, SAYS
j. 0, READ OF HAr1iLTON.
The Recognized Authority Of the
Bitter Root Valley on this
Important Subject.

}. ~. NSdu, the 1eCOS HlZSu dutioiily
in the Bitter Root valley on horticul-
ture, has contributed another of hts
valuable articles on pruning trees to
the readers of The Western News.
Mr.. Read is one of the successful
orchardists in the valley, and the fol-
lowing article is we'll worth cutting
out and pasting in your hat for future
reference. Following is what MI.
Read has to say on the subject OF
pruning:
Pruning is subject that will stand
talking about until it is thread bare,
and then some, as a great many of us
fruit growers are very lax about keep
ing our orchards pruned, not only lax,
but careless and Indifferent about it,
letting our orchards go for several
years, then hire some cheap would-be-
professional-pruner that happens
along, to go into the orchard and cut
the day lights out of it.
In setting out young orchard
would not leave more than five
branches, cutting away the center one,
forming sort Of busket shaped
head, then keep close watch on it
the balance of the growing season,
rubbing off the buds by haud before
any undesirable limbs have had an
opportunity to develop to any great
extent. This is what l call the ideal
way of pruning, and if the operation
is repeated each year, there will never
he any large limos to remove, and
rarely will a saw be required. When
ever possible, the pruning knife or the
pruning shears should be used instead
of the saw. Try to make as smooth a
cut as possible.
Prune your trees in the month OF
June, and at no other time; it is then
that the caInbium layer is at max
imum, at other times it is at mini
mum. and during the winter season
there is the smallest quantity. The
ella borated sap or Cambium from the
leaf comes down between the sapwood
and the bark in excess in June for the
purpose of making the annual growth,
hence, if limb is cut off or wound
is made, the cambium or healing salvc
is right at hand to repair the in jury.
The ca.nbium, which is living vege-
tab BILE substance, is pressed out over
the wound by the tight fitting ba1k ,
aIx,@ l,a he
menCes at once.
Pruning out of season, as in winter,
cannot give these results, for there is
no cambium to be deposited, and con
sequently no growth, the limb will dry
and decay.
Procure suitable tools for this work
get the best you can, as the best is
none too good. In saving off a limb
don't be afraid of cutting it off to,
close to the main branch, the closer
the better. First saw the limb on the
under side SO as to prevent the bark
from peeling down and injuring the
tree. If the wound be a large one
give il a coat of tar or white lead.
A successful pruner of trees ane
shrubs should possess three things
knowledge, skill, and Judgment. d.
not go at your trees IN a haphazar'
way, if it is an old tree and has beei
allowed to go number of years with
out pruning, cut out the center, am
all superfluous branches. so as to lie
in the sunlight and good circulation
of air. When trees are left to them
selves the branches crowd one an
other, the fruit is of under size, poo
in color, and difficult to gather. The
ain the cost of spraying is much il
point of time and material saved O.
the trees, which are judiciously prunet
Another great item is the harvestin
of the fruit on trees that are properl
pruned. A good picker will gather
third more fruit in given time froi
tree that has been cared for and we
pruned than he will from a tree thu
has had very little care and prunin,
If you want first class fruit from yot
orchard, prune your trees, care ft
them, and then prune again.
ii Take Notice