The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-05-01

sons for the pyramid shape, and there
we must let the matter rest. There
are some very good authorities on
| both sides of this question. l think
this difference arises mainly in what
| is meant by the best shape. If the
strength of the tree is the point
sought, then l would not hesitate to
decide in favor of the pyramidal
shape. If the quality of the fruit is
| the determining factor, l would GER
tainly decide in favor of the vase
shape. The pyramidaltree looks well on
paper and looks we'll in the orchard
when young, but when it becomes
! loaded with fruit it folds UP like an
umbrella and does not readily admit
| the sunlight. This is it's chief defect.
Let me give little experience: On
April 16, 1895, set a tree of the pyra-
mid form where a tree was missing
| in an orchard set in the spring of 1894.
| 1t was a fine specimen. l wanted to
give it thorough trial. 1t was a
beautiful tree, having the limbs COM
ing out on the different sides of the
main stem and something like foot
apart, but on all sides. In few years
l found the top was entirely too thick
and 1 had to cut out some of the large
limbs, and that marred the tree and
left large wounds to heal over. That
tree today is in bad shape, and never
can be what l want a tree to be in
shape. The vase shaped trees all
about it bend apart when loaded with
apples, but this tree tends to fold up.
The trees that bend apart let in the
sunlight far better than the one that
| folds up. I do not need to remind my
readers that sunlight is the one indis-
pensable factor in securing color for
apples, and quality and color go to-
gether. From my experience, not
only in this one case, but in many 9TH
ers reaching back for fifty years,
would never train my trees with g.
center stem, but would use the vase
shape.
AS to what Van Deman, Piper and
Lake have said on this question of
shape I am not prepared to say.
| have nothing at hand from either one
of these men favoring one side or the
other on this question. Piper has
twice visited my orchards and ex-
pressed his admiration of my trees,
but SO far as 1 can call to mind he ex-
pressed no preference for the one
shape or the other, for that point was
| never mentioned. His admiration for
my trees without a note of criticism
might be construed to be an indorse-
| ment of the vase shape. While I can
not give the views of these men, can
give some very decided Endorsements
of the vase shaped tree from others of
our leading pomologists in the United
States.
The present head of the Department
of Pomology, which Is a division in
the Department of Agriculture, Wash
| ington, D. c., is G.. B. Bracket. No
| man stands higher in pomOlogy than
| he. In the Yearbook for 1901 Bracket
has this to say about pruning the ap-
pie tree: Pruning and training are
important factors in the successful
objects to be attained are ID symmet-
rical and evenly balanced heads, and
(2) the admission of sunlight and free
circulation of air into all parts of the
tree top while maintaining a sufficient
| density of foliage to protect the
trunks, branches and fruit from the
direct rays of the sun, which are liza
| BILE to scald and injure both tree and
fruit. If the trees are one or two
years old when set they should be cut
back to the height from the ground
it is proposed to form the head of the
| tree. This cutting back will cause
several of the upper buds to grow,
| which will form the head at the prop
er height. These should be watched
and only such left to grow as are to
form the main branches. Those left
| should be the strongest shoots at
equal distances apart around the stem,