The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1907-05-02
FOR THE oRcAhRDisT.
A Few Timely Hints About Fruit
Trees.

Many fruit trees become old prema-
turely because they are not properly
taken care Of Some fruit growers
get the idea that when they set out q
tree their work is ended. when in
reality 1t has just commenced. Plant
ing tree and then neglecting it, only
coming around each year to gather
the fruit. may do for a year or two,
but there will soon be no fruit worth
gathering. When trees get in this con-
dition, many farmers will dig them
out and destroy them. but with very
little expense these seemingly worth
less orchards could be transformed
into sources of profit.
Last spring, says a CORES spondent
of Orange Judd Farmer, | had some
choice peach trees that | had taken
great pride in. but with the excep-
tion of about half a dozen, had not
grown paying crop. They had been
cultivated and fertilized every year
and | was at loss to know what to
do with them. However, | went at
them determined either to kill or
cure. | cut OF all the limbs to with
in six inches of the bodies. which
were given good spraying with soap.
The new growth on the stubs the past
summer was simply tremendous.
Many branches were four to six feet
long. | now have a fine lot of prac-
tically new trees. which give promise
of a paying crop next season. The
o1r
new wood. hence this must be kept in
mind when pruning peach trees.
take care of my pear trees on
about the same principle. Every sea
son there are some trees that have to
be severely pruned. The tops are cut
out and they go through the reno
waiting process of growing new tops.
But in the pear, 1t takes more time TO
get fruit on new growth. The peach
bears on one-year wood, while it takes
the pear two and sometimes three
years before ii bears fruit in paying
quantities. In case of only having
few trees of some choice varieties,
and not wishing TO be without fruit
any one season, ! simply cut out only
one-half of the top, leaving the re-
mainder to be taken out the following
spring In this way, | get fruit and
grow a new top at the same time.
There is one very important point,
however. that must be kept in mind
when renewing fruit trees; the vigor-
Gus growth of new wood is often
twice as much as necessary, and 1t
must be iudiciously pruned. Cut out
the smallest branches. leaving only
the largest and best, the idea being
to have an open top so that the sun
sight can reach the fruit. Fruit that
reaches perfection Is seldom found in
a thick topped tree, but is almost al
ways produced on the outside or top
branches in the sunlight.
The main trouble with standard
pear trees is, that they grow too high.
Intelligent fruit growers are gradual
" resorting to this heading in process,
as they find it contains many good
points worthy of observation. After
a part of the top is cut out, the rest
1 of the tree gets the whole strength
/ from the roots, which have not been
/ disturbed In this way, higher
[ grade of fruit is secured and is easy
/ to sell at paying prices. In my young
/ pear orchard ] have followed this
/ heading in process from youth up, as
/ it were, starting the head of the tree
| about three feet from the ground and
! cutting back the top every year, thus
! getting good, stocky trees which are
capable of sustaining their fruit.
I In the case of an old, neglected or
! chard. the soil will need good deal
of attention after the tops have been
taken out. Most likely 1t is in stiff
sod. A good. steady man. team and
! plcw are needed TO plow in the center
of two rows of trees. tapping the first
two burrows. In this way, you will be
blowing away from the trees, and the
clearing up furrow will come directly
] in line with each row of trees. Plow
as closely as possible, taking care not
to bark the trees What sod is left,
throw away from bases of the trees
with a shovel NoXious insects, mice,
etc. often take refuge in the grass
around trees, and keep the ground
bare next to tree. The depth at
which TO plow will have TO be regu-
lated according to the nearness of
the roots to the surface. Plow as
deep as possible without injuring the
roots.