Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-18
Daily Hints on Farm Topics
Seasonable Notes.


almost indispensable part OF the
farm equipment. There are great
many persons who think that all that
is necessary in pruning an orchard Is
to have a sharp axe and good hand-
saw. Nothing could be farther from
the truth. A set Of pruning tools is
not costly and can be usually had for
under five dollars. In such a set
should be found good pruning
knife. preferably with fixed blade.
This sort Of tool, made Of the very
best material, ought to be bought for
twenty-five or thirty cents.
There should also be pruning
saw. There are many types Of prun-
ing saws made-single-edged dou-
ble-edged, straight or curved. But
the best pruning saw for all pur-
poses is swivel blade saw, made on
the style of hack or meat-saW.
This swivel blade allows one to saw
in any kind of crotch on any tree
without barking up the opposite
branch, Nand without leaving any
stub or protruding shoulder. A dou-
ble-edged saw is Objectionable for
the reasons that have been mentioned.
There are several manufacturing
companies which make this style
of saw at a cost Of from one dollar
and a quarter to one dollar and sew.
enty-five cents. One company makes
this in a style which may be placed
on a pole handle. In order that It
may be used on branches up In the
tree
. A pruning, looping shears should
be included In the set. The Topping
shears are valuable for cutting
branches up to an inch In diameter.
If one gets the proper style OF shears,
the cut which is made by this tool IS
one which heals more readily and
smoothly than one made with saw.
The proper type of looping shears
is one which has double leverage,
if possible, and draw cut. There
are some companies which make a
great feature of looping shears
which cut from both edges, but / do
not think this is of much value ex-
cept as to talking point. skfllful
operator can manipulate a single
edge cutting shears do as good or
better work and withlfar more con-
venience than can be achieved by the
use of double-blade shears. One OF
these tools of the best type, with "a
inch handles, ought to be bought for
81 so to 50.
One should not forget hand
shears when making up the set.
This is tool that is used for cutting !
the small branches and for topping
back. 1t may also be used for prun-
ing shrubbery and berry-brush plan
tations. One can buy this tool at a
cost varying in price. I have In my
possession catalogue which lists
these at any price from forty-five
cents to two dollars and half. or
course. the two dollar and a half
,ool is supposed to be hand-forged
steel and of the very best quality
possible. This Is usually nickel
plated and has great many "gew-
Jaws" on it. For good many years
have used a tool of good quality
which cost only fifty cents at re-
all There is so much in the way IN
which a person uses a pruning shears
hat novice or a careless person
would get unsatisfa Glory work out OF
he highest priced shears made.
One more tool ought to be in the
set if possible. That is what is
Known as Waters tree primer. This
S style Of clipper which may be
lad on any length of pole from four
o sixteen feet. A lever is fixed on
he lower end of the pole so one can
work clipper at the other extremity.
This sort of tool is found to be very
in topping back trees and IN
out blighted or small broken
branches. It requires considerable !
kill to use 1t so that one does not
cave a protruding stub. The price OF
his tool varies with the length OF
,ole that Is to be used as handle.
The four-foot length may usually be
fought for about seventy-five cents.
rhe sixteen-foot length may cost
2. I prefer a medium length pole.
Every person who has home or
hard ought to invest In such set, II
possible. 1t will cut down great
lrudgery and hard work in connec-
ion with the keeping of the orchard
n shape. In fact, anyone who has
he proper tools kept in good condt-
ion considers 1t a pleasure to do
pruning. In another article a dis