The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-02-22
STARTING THE APPLE TREES
MATTER OF PRUNING Is OF CON-
SIDERABLE IMPORTANCE.
BY Dr.. J. c. Written, Professor of
Horticulture, University
Of Missouri.

~ thS SiHiC VI PluhSAA6B thC AOos
system of young trees should be
pruned just enough to remove any
mangled or broken roots; to make a
smooth. instead of a ragged wound,
and to shorten long or struggling
roots TO six or eight inches in length.
1t is better to cut off part of long
root than to double it up in the hole
at the time of planting. 1t has been
advised in pruning large roots to hold
the tree in the hand with the top
downward, so that the wound will be
made OH the lower surface OF the root.
Experiments, however, have shown no
advantage in this method over that of
cutting from the top downward, so
that the wound occurs on the upper
surface of the root. The essential
point is that the soil should come in
close contact with the wound, in
which case the wound callouses and
emits new roots regardless of the po-
stion of the wound; the side branches
or limbs above ground should be
shortened somewhat to balance the
central trunk or leader should be
maintained. If tree is forked, one
side of the fork should be cut to
few inches in length. If limbs occur
below the head (place where the tree
should branch) they should be cut of
as close to the trunk as possible, un-
less they are SO large that the cut
will make a dangerous wound. In
this case they should be shortened to
a few inches in length to prevent
their making new growth. The stubs
remaining should be entirely removed
next season.
One wear old trees that have not
branched after transplanting, will
throw out few branches at their
tops, thus forming heads at that
height To prevent their heading too
high. they may be cut off about six or
eight inches above the height at
which it is decided to have the head
formed.
As rule, low heads are preferred
in this section. Some extensive apple
growers prefer to head their trees as
low as one foot from the ground.
while others still advocate the old
method of heading them high enough
so that a team can walk under the
branches. The majority prefer to
head their trees about two feet above
the ground. The tendency is toward
lower. rather than higher heads, as
we're formerly recommended.
The subsequent annual pruning OF
apple trees is a matter OF consider
able importance. Most OF the prun-
ing is usually done during the winter.
The fruit grower usually has more
time at command in winter than IN
summer. Judicious pruning may be
done at almost any season, however,
except perhaps during the short Pc
Rod when the trees would bleed Ill
spring. And it is highly desirable 10
remove dead, broken, injured or dls-
eased parts whenever they occur.
Those in this state who prune usu-
ally prune too much rather than too
little. Others make an equally Sc
rious mistake of pruning none at all.
While some pruning should be done
annually. the aim in this climate
should be to make strong, compact,
dense heads rather than open ones
More pruning should be done during |
the first few wears while the trees are !
shaping than later.
One of the first considerations is to
aim to maintain straight central
trunk or leader. If possible. A branch .
near the center OF the tree should be
.elec1ed for the leader and kept in .
the ascpndency by pruning other
branches that tend to outgrow 1t. II
forks occur in this leader, one side
If the fork should be severely cut
back in order that the other side may
be retained as the leader. Trees
zrowing in this way are not likely to
,nlit down when heavily loaded with
'ruit.
The symmetry OF the trees should
be maintained by cutting back any
branches that grow too far to one
tide. If branches grow to each other
md rub severely enough to cause in
ury. one should be cut out to avoid
If branches are numer-
Jus enough to crowd each other Sc
verely, some may be removed. There
8 more danger in opening up holes in
he heads of the trees and letting in
90 much sunlight to scorch the trunk
md main limbs than there is of hav-
ng the branches too thick. Where
he upright growing limbs of young
rees appear to be very dense, they 4:
vill usually be weighted down by the
rst crop Of fruit sufficiently to open
ID the head of the tree. Whenever
here is doubt as to whether or not a
ranch should be removed, it is, per-
aps, safer to leave It on. Water
prouts, which are the bane Of exist
nee to some fruit growers. will not
sually form in trees If the tree head
maintained in this way. Water
prouts are oftener an indication Of
DO much pruning than too little.
It may be observed in almost any
A. 4