Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-03-30
PREMIUM APPLES.

vigor and to make them fruitful, to
facilitate such orchard work as prun-
ing, spraying, thinning, and cultiva-
tion, also to regulate the amount OF
heat and light that strikes the va
rious parts of the tree, producing
maximum color and shielding against
sun scald, also training the plant to
some desired form.
There are few general principles
one should bear in mind; first, study
the type of tree desired. Yellow
Newton apples should not be pruned
the same day as the Northern Spy.
Peaches are pruned entirely different
from apples. You should make a
close study Of the bearing habits, and
type Of buds. Most apples and pears
bear on spurs two years of age, bur
occasionally fruit is borne on one
year old spurs in the axils of leaves
of the previous years growth, on
tips of last years growth, and some
times on one year old spurs. Peaches
bear on one year old wood and never
on older growth. Heavy top pruning
tends to produce very rank wood
growth, rejuvinates plants and has a
tendency to produce a heavy water
sprout growth.
"The habits of plants differ ac-
cording to age as well as variety.
The general tendency is to grow
from the uppermost buds. The head
ing in of the terminal growth tends
to strengthen and produce lateraIs.
Fruit-bearing tends to become a hab-
1t with trees, and may be brought
about by a check, such as light
pruning, not as much cultivation,
etc. Season may have bearing on
the tendency of producing fruitful
ness. Spring or winter pruning has
a tendency to produce wood growth
Summer pruning, if not done to ex-
cess, has a tendency to produce
fruit
THE question of high and low
heads is not worth discussing. We
know that low heads makes cheaper
orchard work, and one is not so apt
to lose trees from sun scald or
boTers Remember, a short trunk
may not mean a low head. There
are several types of trees, such as
the open tree, sometimes called the
vase" or goblet" or leader of pyra-
time is wasted on the discussion of
these types. Some varieties tend to
make an unsatisfactory growth, espe-
cially the yellow varieties, If grown
other than by the leader type. The |
Northern Spy does much better when |
grown open. Open trees are gen
orally weak, due to allowing the |
branches to start from one bud. Do
not do this. Select the branches
and allow plenty of space
between them.
Pruning Young Apples.
Head the trees low, from 1S to
70 inches. You can cut say about |
25 inches, and this will give you
more space on which to form the
branches. Never allow all branches
to grow near top of cut; this means
that at the growing season you will |
have to rub off buds and cut out all |
branches. Do this be-
lore the branches get very large, in
he spring of the Ssecond year. /
would prefer to prune young trees
before growth starts in spring. Sc
ect from three to five of the best
branches and cut back to growth 10
o IL inches in length. Remove all
aterals. During the second year each
branch will throw out large num-
,er of new branches. Only allow
wo of these new branches to grow
IN the previous years growth. Cut
hese back from 10 to IL inches in
ength. Occasionally we allow some
If these branches to remain, but
hese have a tendency to produce
,arly fruit, too early for the good
# the tree.
"At the beginning of the third year
-ou should again thin out excessive
aterals, the same as the previous
ear, but you can allow the remain
ng laterals to be headed back to
wo or three buds. The heading
'ack process gives strength and bal
nee to the trees. The weak forks
hould not be allowed to grow. From
he third year on the pruning be-
omes less vigorous, the aim being
o check trees making excessive ter
ninal growth and removing the lat |
rails where they are too thick. If {
ou practice severe pruning you will
Don have large brush heap.
About the summer of the fourth
ear you can do some summer prun- ,
ng. This can be done about the
lrst or middle of July, and should be
cry moderate. In removing branches,
ut them close to the body of the
rec. Never allow a branch to drop
o as to tear the tree, making a bad {
'ound. All wounds should be paint. {
d or covered with grating wax. If ]
ou have a large growth of water ,
prouts, indications are, that you are 6
ding too much pruning. The weak
r the tree, branch or twig, the more
re winter prune to give vitality.
lever prune branches that are froz
n, as this causes die back, and the
'ounds do not heal well. On mature /
rees heading back near strong lat
rails has a tendency to reduce the {
Tater sprouts at the point of cut c
ng. When water sprouts begin to
row, remove at once. Trees that
ave a tendency to bear every year
ill stand more pruning. Trees that
re eight or ten years of age that
re vigorous and not bearing heavily, q
re being pruned too severely or re- Q
Giving too much cultivation. Trees |
nat tend to produce fruit every 9TH {
r year should be pruned heaviest j
le fruiting year" a
To Clarity Honey. t
When honey is full Of broken bits {
10