The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-18
PRUNING AND TRAINING
PEAR TREES.
CIV G.. B.

Pruning and training are important
requisites in the successful
ment of a pear orchard. The objects
to be attained are: CD symmetrical,
evenly balanced heads; CD the ad-
mission Of sunlight and free c%ircula-
ton Of air into all parts Of the tree
tops; and 49, the maintenance OF SUI
ficient foliage to protect the trunk
and branches from the intense heat Of
the suns rays which would otherwise
be likely to Scald and injure both tree
and fruit.
Pruning should begin as soon as
the trees have been planted by cut
ting back the young trees at this
time Of planting to the height
from the ground it is proposed to
start the branches to form the head
Of the tree. which should not be
over IL to Is inches. This cutting
back will cause several Of the upper
buds to break and grow, thus starting
the top or head at the proper height.
The starting branches should be
watched and only such left to grow as
ara to form the main branches. The
strongest shoots should be left at
equal distances apart around the
stem and should tend oblique1y out
ward SO as to spread and make an
open head. The second year these
shoots should be shortened back to
the extent Of about half Of the
| growth. The same plan should be
continued the third and fourth years.
In all pruning to give the desired
form to the head and especially while
the tree is yOun the orchardist
should keep clearly fixed in his mind
the form Of the tree as it is to be
when old: for what may seem to be
an open head when the tree is young
may prove to be too dense and crowd
ed when the tree Is older. The
branches should not be too close to-
gether for convenience in gathering
the fruit.
During late winter, or in early
spring. before the sap starts, each tree
SHOULD be carefully looked over and
all branches which are likely to inter
fere with adjoining ones should be
cut out and the centers of dense
tgrOWth thinned out; side branches
which are making a stronger growth
than the others should be checked by
shortening in. SO as to maintain an
evenly balanced head. Some varieties
have an upright habit Of growth AND
some make a slender. struggling
growth. All need attention each year
In cutting back the last years growth
the top bud should be left on the side
Of the branch facing the direction il
which the growth needs to be di.
Verted. BY this method there will be
no difficulty in shaping the tree int
any desired form.
All pruning and training possible
should be one while the trees ars
young and the growth of WOOD Il
tender. At such time the heealins
owe is more rapid and complete, ane
5 the tree suffers less injury.
Old trees that have been neglected
may be renewed by severe pruning
: cutting back all the branches that ar,
l not in a healthy condition.. Thi
pruning will cause new, vigorou
! shoots to grow. The new growth viii
need to be cut back as occasion re
t CURES. By persistent pruning an en-
tire new top may be formed in a few
+, years.
+. When the removal Of a large brancI
is necessary. the wound should b
covered with grating wax, paint O
n some other substance that will pre-
vent evaporation and keep the WOO
q from checking and consequent dc
t cay.
: In foreign countries the pear
q trained into many forms by prunin;
but in this country the forms ollow
ed in shaping the tree are main
e limited to three-vase, pyramidal ar
e intermediate. The vase form prevail
IS to a large extent in the Pacific Goa.
+ region. where it has been found to /
best suited to the conditions Of ths