Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-04-29
Pruning.
(From the College Of Agriculture. University OF
Maine.)

There are six important orchard activ
tiles, viz, planting, cultivating, pruning
spraying, harvesting, and marketing
OF these, by far the most important u
that of pruning. 1t requires the mos
Judgment, is the least understood, and Il
practised by but q few. One can &C
quire the knowledge only by direct OK
perience; 1t is q personal factor, and ont
must know his trees and shrubs, theil
natural shapes, methods OF growth
and habits of fruiting before he Car
prune successfully. We cannot outline
plan to be followed by each and ever!
fruit grower, for the reason that there
are many experts who have their indi
vidual way of pruning, and do not recog
nize any other. 1t is case OF disagree
ing. Different methods are advocated
in the different fruit belts. Many IN the
east want high heads for their apple
trees, those in the extreme west, low
heads, while In the middle section
medium head is preferred. In any case
the chief thing aimed at is to develop q
tree Of such shape as will give the best
| fruit product with the least expenditure
of time and labor. This will depend
largely upon the variety of the tree, and
greatly upon the personality OF the own
or, so that no set and fast rules can be
laid down for orchard pruning. We will
however, touch upon the different fac
tors involved.
Reasons for Pruning. We must have
In mind that pruning Is benent ana
not an injury. Nature prunes to a GER
tain extent, but not in systematic man
ner. The horticultural prunes to secure
the following results:
(a) To produce better shaped trees.
ib) To secure more uniform product.
icj To obtain higher flavor and better
keeping quality in the fruit by admit
ting sunlight and air.
Method of Pruning. There are great
diversities in methods of pruning. The
two extremes are: the old method OF our
fathers, to leave nature severely alone
and let the tree slough of her dead
limbs as best she may, and the one ad-
vocated BY Mr. Stringfellow las applied
to nursery trees) which strips everything
to a string (as bis name indicates) tax
ing off top and roots until but vestige
of the original is left. Neither OF these
should be followed.
(a) Pruning old trees. This should be
done in a systematic manner, and with
definite plan In view. First remove all
dead and dying wood. In all cases
sharp tools are essential; the saw should
be followed by a sharp chisel, 80 as to
leave the sap wood in condition to heal
quickly. If the head Is too thick, open
up by taking out enough branches to let
in the sunlight and air.
(b) Pruning young trees. Nursery
trees are best trimmed at the time of
setting. This is the most critical period
in the right or wrong development of the
top. The location of the scaffold limbs
is as important to the symmetrical de,
velopment to a perfect top as Is the right
construction of house foundation.
As has been previously mentioned,
there is great diversity of opinion
among fruit growers as to the high or
lowheaded tree. The extremes are
from a foot and half In the case OF low
heads to 5 or 6 feet with high heads.
We would recommend medium height
of from 2 to 2 21-2 feet. To prune two
year old nursery trees: with a sharp
knife cut off the ends OF all roots and
otherwise injured portions, and remove
all limbs not needed for the head forma.
ton. Those left to form the head should
be 8 or 4 inches apart, when possible;
cut back the remaining limbs leaving
from 2 to 1.3 of their original length.
Advantages of lowheaded trees: (a)
are less liable to trunk injury by sun,
scald: (b) less subject to wind injury: icy
can be more easily and economically
sprayed; (d) the top is more quickly
formed; (e) comes into bearing earlier;
% fruit can be more easily .hinned and
harvested.
When to Pruue. With most plants
there is right time to prune. All dead
wood may be pruned "when your saw is
sharp" In general, for apple trees
prune in March or April; for grapes, in
late fall. For fruit production prune
lightly in summer. For new wood
growth, pruns heavily in winter.