Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-02-15
CONTINUED from last week,

the tree Will yield big returns. One
of the chief reasons why we are able
to raise high priced apples is because
of our long days of summer sunshine +
and yet II we allow the wood growth
OF our trees to become so thick as to
shade crop Of apples, we might as
well plant our trees in Ohio and be
done with it. The open-headed tree
with plenty OF sunlight, plenty of air
circulation carrying a small enough
crop OF apples so that the tree can
produce them to the standard size. is
the efficient tree. There are almost
as many methods of pruning as there
are men to prune, and yet they all
practically agree in regard to the OBJ
ject sought. The major portion of
the experienced western orchardists.
however, agree that after the tree has
been grown and the head properly
formed and spread out, as has been
described to you by Secretary Nc
Pherson. one should be careful with
the pruning knife in the winter time |
until the tree is in full bearing And,
above all other thugs, after the
branches should not be cut back I'M
less there is TO be a heavy crop OF ap-
pies the next season, and even in
that case, it is far better to leave
them until the crop of apples is set
and assured and then reduce their
length by summer pruning work.
There are thousands of orchards in
this intermountain region in which an
original branch has been headed back
only to start three more long water
growths which have again been head
ed back, each one starting two or
three more. and so on. until the tor
OF the tree is miniature broom, anC
a witch's broom at that. A tree II
that shape can only be cured by lonl
and tedious effort One-third OF THU
energy, however expended in starting
the tree right will prevent all this
The rule. then, on the young develop
ing tree is never TO cut of brancl
towards the top unless you cut OF
the entire branch. until that tree 1
fruiting heavily, then the excessiv
wood growth may be reduced sma
amount at time by summer prunin
without disturbing the balance b.
tween the roots and top. IN all prul
ing OF course 1t must be remembers
that The fruit is borne on the sho
spurs next to the branches and thi
the lower down the fruit is borne {
the tree the cheaper and easier II ca
be handled at picking time. 1t COS
Ave times as much TO pick a bush
OF apples ten feet from the ground
Il does TO pick bushel within reac
and when you get much above L
feet. there Is little pront in raisil
apples.
Irrigation is another OF the weste
problems In this day We hear go
deal about raising orchards wiiho
irrigation or with a very small nu
Der OF irrigations. II is probably tr
that many orchards have been ov
irrigated in the past. but there "
be still greater disappointment in
future II We 20 20 the extreme a
think we are going TO raise fruit wi
out irrigation water II is c'
enough TO raise trees, and many
chards have been raised up to
water. but when a crop OF fruit
so be ripenod right nj the very dry
timo OF the year when wood gro
has practically ceased and otherV
the tree would be using very Il
moisture. It will be round that an
chard requires as much water as
other crop. and If the water is 81
al that time few days may ruin
entire efforts OF tho year. Ther
also another factor TO be KEPT
mind in the use OF the irrisa
water. and that is that the fruit
for the next seasons crop must
developed during the last part OF
and August OF the preceding
inst AT the time that the gre'
drain IL made on the tree by the
ing crop. In our irrigation eN
ments on peaches. we have peeh
by Withholding water at TINS uH
absolutely stop the development
fruit buds.
There is also another factor
considered in irrigaung the ore
Enthusiastic orchardists Will taxi
ont point TO young orchard and
Look at that. IL has never hau Il
of water" and have looked
times and have seen trees hne
healthy in appearance. but on'y
or even one-thrd the size they
have been had they been lrr'l
and capable Of carrying only a
small load OF fruit. even II ihe'
that even If the orchard should
rigated from that time on 1t wo'
three or four years behind an
ed orchard in Its producing
On the other hand, In our pea
periments. we have found I'M
Quite True.