The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-04-22
PRUNING rHe oEcHAep.
The Form Of the Tree Is the First
Thing to Work For.

The form OF the tree is the first OBJ
ject for which the pruner works, and
If he produces the vase or inverted
cone form he will at the same time
accomplish several other objects, says
the Farmers Review, to-wit:
1. He will thereby facilitate tillage
II the little tree be headed high, four
or FIVE feet, the growth Of the branches
will tend outward in a horizontal di-
rection This will be aggravated
when the tree. comes into bearing so
that the horse will pass under with
difficulty. II will also be necessary to
prop up these horizontal branches with
many props to keep the limbs from
breaking down completely. If he has
the inverted cone form a single prop
in the center close to the trunk and
ropes from this prop to the different
loaded branches will hold them in form
and allow cultivation to within six
inches of the trunk at any time dur
ing the fruiting season without re-
moving any props or danger OF break
ing the limbs.
2. lie will by this form of tree facili-
tate spraying, thinning and harvesting
of fruit.
3. BY this form, pruning will be
made much easier The strong tend
ency toward the forming of a leader
or leaders Is more completely broken
up. All orchardists know how care.
fully these leaders must be watched
i'm other forms of trees. II Will also
be easier by this form to make a
proper distribution of the branches
and to have the largest possible bear
ing surface with all the spaces be
tween branches for air and sun Of a
size to suit the needs of the tree
There is, we believe, no other form
of tree more easily kept within man
ageable shape and limits.
The subsequent pruning OF sucf
trees after the second year will con
sist in shortening each years growth
from one-third to one-half and cuttins
out so that the branches shall not b'
crowded.
The first thing the pruner must dt
is to examine the leader. Perhaps
there will be six or more main branch
es. Perhaps two of these are twice a
thick as the others. They are defect
, ing the nourishment from the othe
branches. The side branches of thes
leaders must be severely thinned. TIL
leader itself must be cut back severely
Heroic pruning must be done and tn
energy of the trees so detected that al
the remaining branches shall get thei
share of the plant food The air an
sunshine must be let in
, Ordinary pruning may be done a
any time when the tree is dormant
The best time is from February III
April. But summer pruning for frui
has a special season. 1t must be don
before the tree Is dormant or ha
;, completed its growth, and yet not S
early in the summer that there wi
, be new shoots. About the first {
: August we find is the right time. Thi
. pruning consists simply in removin
: an inch or two of the seasons growtl
1t is best done with the long clipper
The effect Of this pruning is the a
resting of sap and turning back
follow the cambiun downward to el
. . ter into lower buds and to induce
u metamorphosis-tha is, changing
. leaf bud into fruit or flower bu
!, BY this operation young fruit tree
- may be made to bear two or thrt
l. years earlier than trees which are NJ
= so treated 1t may be that this sur
mer pruning has been done a lit
- early, and that the buds next to II
> cut surface will shoot up and continl
y the growth. Should this be the cas-
= pinch these back also.