The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1913-02-28
HOW AND WHEN TO CUT BACK

There are four distinct reasons for /
cutting back limbs, namely, cutting
back for the purpose Of causing the
branches to grow out directly below
the cut: second. cutting back for posi-
ton: third. cutting back for strength;
fourth, cutting back to induce fruit or
to check excessive growth. The nrst
three prunings have to do with the
shape and only perform their purpose
when done in the winter. The fourth
is a midsummer or later pruning. Cut
ting back for branches is the most i'm
portant of the four reasons, as by its
practice the trees stature and shape
is produced, and the bearing area es-
tablished and maintained. To build
heavy substantial skeleton work
should be the primary object in prun-
ing young trees. After the second or
third years growth only the main
branches or leaders being left on at
the previous winter pruning, and they
are four and one-half TO six feet high
from ten to twelve inches should be
cut of the top OF each to throw out
laterals (side branches). The cut OF
ten inches or more is necessary to get
strong and upright branches from the
buds below the cut.
These laterals are part of the per-
y no IL
er has made over three and one-half
feet additional growth it should be cut
back 10 within three and one-half feet
OF the first cut and the process re-
peated the third time. with the same
three and one-half foot space. The
tree will be six or seven years old be-
we'll established. This constitutes the
skeleton work or supporting wings.
which should always remain upright
AS the tree is in full bearing at this
time the growth is small. and any
limbs above the third series laterals
are apt TO bear before they acquire
3.
However. if a larger tree is desired,
the 4th and 9Th laterals can be pro-
duced by keeping the fruit of the tops
of leaders and cutting back as for the
first three series, except the series
may be three feet apart. A great deal
OF fruit may be borne directly and On
oil ;,
the real bearing area is on limbs of
the laterals or sub-laterals. On most
varieties these come out naturally but
cutting back insures their coming out,
and they can be produced where and
when desired
Whenever d cut bach Is IIlade posi-
| ton must be considered A high cut
above bud causes the resulting limb
to start rather horizontally and grow
upright at an angle to the original
| limb. To cut close to the bud pr J.
duces a straight continuation of the
original limb. The high cut is prac
| ticed on leaders on the windward sId-
of the tree and the close cut on the
other side. commonly, though, either
| cut may be made to an advantage on
any position of the tree. Where limbs
| desired for permanent laterals grow
| too horizontally or do not fill the
! space next to them, where lateral is
needed high cut above the proper
bud will throw the new growth out al
an angle upright in the first place and
at an abrupt angle toward the open
| space in the second case Both cuts
should be very severe, as a single limb
from the bud is desired
This is explained as cutting for
strength. To get strength from cut.
back the cut must be severe taking al
! least two-thirds of the previous years
growth, though more is better the
strength of the new growth being &C.
cording to the amount of cut-back. 4
cut of one-fourth of one-year-old WOOD
results in five to eight new shoots be
low the cut; cut of one-half from
three to five new limbs; of two-thirds
two to three new limbs; more thar
three-fourths, only one strong limb
though there may be one or two weak
twigs below. With lighter cuts the
limbs are nearly equal in size, blr
with cuts with over two-thirds tht
greater the proportion between the
! top limbs and the other an exception
to this occurs occasionally. 1t must be
understood that cut-backs to buds must
be made only in one-year- wood
Cutting back TO induce fruiting checks
the growth of the limb cut back As
stated this is done in the summer anC
after the seasons heavy growth il
over. The fall growth usually being
much less than the early growth, tbs
buds back of the cut-back Just have
time TO swell before the tree stops
growing. This should only be prac.
ticed on other than structural limbs
| and not before the fourth year. The
setting OF fruit buds and spurs can be
expected in proportion TO the amount
OF check the tree gets and the age OF
the tree.