The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-07-13
SUMMER PRUNING
ADVANTAGES
HORTICULTURIST DISCUSSES RE-
LATIVE ADVANTAGES
TER PRUNING CAUSES WOOD
GROWTH.

Auc InoOry anu praCC1c6 OF summer
and winter pruning of fruit trees is
able set forth by DR.. J. c. Written,
the famous horticultural expert Of
Missouri. DR.. Written says:
Throughout the country it is Gus
tomary to do the principal part Of
the pruning Of fruit trees Of bearing
age during the winter months. Sum-
Der pruning, however, should be Civ
en- some consideration in addition to
the usual winter pruning
First, let me state some Of the
fundamental difference in the effect
of winter versus summer pruning. AS
rule, judicious pruning of any fruit
trees in winter results in more album
dant wood growth of the parts that
remain the following summer. On
the other hand, summer pruning has
tendency to check wood growth"
After giving what he thinks to be
the reason why summer pruning
checks wood growth, while winter
pruning increases it, he continues:
Wood VS.. Fruit.
1T is a generally recognized fact
that anything which promotes Excess
siye wood growth on the part of a
fruit tree may tend to oppose fruit
fulness or productive activity. A tree
may go to wood rather than to fruit
For this reason, excessive pruning in
winter, even in a bearing tree, may
result in the part of the tree that re-
mains producing water sprouts and
vigorous woody stems and leaves at
the expense of fruit. If tree Is in
good, vigorous condition, and espe-
cially if it is making more than nor
NAL wood growth or vegetable growth
slight checking of this growth may
tend to throw it into bearing.
BOrers Most Hasten Fruit.
"A young tree injured by borers
sometimes bears a crop Of fruit ear
lier than some other trees In the
same orchard Girdling young trees,
while it weakens them, may throw
| them prematurely into bearing. Not
infrequently a badly injured tree
may throw its last bit or energy into
the maturing of a crop Of fruit be-
fore it dies.
Some of the conditions, then, I'M
der which summer pruning Is justiff-
able are these: If trees abe more
normally vigorous and are going to
wood growth rather than to fruit
growth, judicious pruning in sum-
mer is likely to tend to set them into
bearing for the next year. If water
sprouts occur in a tree (Which arc
most often primarily due to too Sc
we're winter pruning) the best time
to cut out these water sprouts is dur
ing the summer, preferably in the
month of June. Water sprouts cut
out at that time are not so likely
to reappear as they are if cut during
the winter time. Sometimes a tree
on account of very favorable condi-
tons, starts suddenly to make such
abundant branches in summer that
the branches become too dense.
Too Much Shade.
These dense branches may crowd
each other, cross and interfere, OF
they may shade too densely fruit
spurs on parts below where fruit
buds should be found. Judicious sum.
mer pruning may often let in enough
light or air that fruit buds forming
may develop much more perfectly
before winter, and not only be more
abundant, but be harder than II
they were allowed to remain shaded
too thoroughly by numerous limbs.
Sometimes diseases appear which
necessitate summer pruning. Fol
instance blight, canker or injured
limbs should be taken out if they
occur in summer, to prevent spread
ing Of the disease or injury to the
tree. Not infrequently fungus dis