The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1911-09-15

Pruning is needed in Nebraska as
we'll as in New York, but the methods
employed, or at least the measure of
wood which is cut away, will need to
be varied. In general, it should be
much less in the western states than
| in the Atlantic states" Prof u. ID.
Bailey in his book entitled The
Pruning Book" quotes with approval
these words and much more from
Cards bulletin and then adds: ut
is undoubtedly true that in those
regions outdoor plants need less
pruning than in humid climates.
In 1896 Prof. j. A. Balmer of the
Washington Experiment Station issu
ed valuable bulletin, entitled "Prun
ing Orchard Trees Prof. Balmer is
very emphatic in this bulletin on
this point of locality. He says:
"Climatic conditions will largely de-
termine what practice we shall adopt
in pruning our fruit trees. Let us
first observe the conditions prevailing
in Eastern Washington. Here we
have a long, dry summer, with a
fierce, scorching sun and strong, dry
ing winds, with a maximum rain fall
Of probably less than eighteen inches
per annum, followed by severe
winter with fluctuating temperature
and sudden changes. Under these
conditions who can wonder that trees
on the east side come to maturity at
an early age, and produce fruit at a
time in their lives when they ought
to be making wood growth and
establishing a strong, healthy frame
for future usefulness. And yet con-
ditions which at first sight would
seem totally untitled for the produc-
ton of healthy trees and fine fruit
are, with the aid of intelligent Guilt
vation and the judicious use OF water,
made to produce the choicest fruit OF
the earth There is no question In
my mind as to what is the proper
method to adopt in pruning our fruit
trees on the east side OF the mount
aims. We must prune in, winter and
prune hard. The tendency of all our
young trees is to run to premature
fruiting, cherry trees carrying crop
of fruit at two years old. and pears
and apples bearing full crop at hve
and six years old. To overcome this
tendency in our trees we must practlce
system of pruning to wood and leaf
growth, and to discourage al! forms
of summer pruning and plnchlng.
tions from Card and Balmer that for
the intermountain regions and the
plains east of the Rocky mountains
summer pruning should not be practlc-
ed and | believe that the reasons
assigned by these able men Will com
mend itself to the thoughtful and I'M
preiudiced men. We make serious
mistake if we try to bring to the
plains of Nebraska and Kansas and to
the intermountain states methods
adapted to New York, Pennsylvania
and Virginia. 1t must not be thought,
however, that in the eastern states
our leading horticulturists recommend
summer pruning alone. Col. q. b.
Bracket, at the head of the Depart
ment of Pomology in the Department
of Agriculture, in the Yearbook Tor
1910, on page COL, has this TO say
about the time of year for the general
pruning of the apple tree:
"During early springtime, or even
late winter when the wood is not
frozen) each year every tree SHOULD
be carefully looked over, and all
branches which are liable to interfere
with adjoining ones should De cut
out and the centers OF the dense
growth thinned out; side branches
which are making stronger growth
than others should be checked by
heading in the terminal or central
shoots, and all parts OF the tree shouio
be cut back whenever necessary TO
maintain an evenly balanced head.
William saunders, horticulturist,