The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-06-11
BAD TIME TO
PRUNE TREES
SO SAYS CITY PARK BOARD, IN
SUBMITTING REPORT OF
MINNESOTA PROFESSOR.

Only small branches of trees may
be safely removed now in the process
of pruning, declared the Mitchell
park board in a statement made to-
day. Large branches are most safely
removed during the latter part OF
winter. The boards statement fol-
lows.
There is some ACTIVITY in Mitchell
at the present time in the pruning
of street and shade trees,and ii an
pears TO the Mitchell park board
that the Publication of our local pa
pers OF some general advice along
this line would be in order.
The pruning of trees is not a diff
hcult matter If a few points are held
In mind and these can be easily
grasped by any one of reasonable in
telligence. Some have thought it
necessary to secure an expert from =
distant point to do this work and
pay high prices for having it done.
n Is not necessary and not sdyis-
able for reasons that are obvious.
moth point to be held In mind
Is that there is no ~"cure-aun which
IS a remedy for all diseases and af-
nictions OF trees any more than thar
there is a"cure-all'for the afflictions
OF the human race. If ANYTHING is
wrong with a tree, a specific treat
ment is probably necessary, whethe,
such affection be a disease or an
insect injury.
The trees of Mitchell are in or.
ulnarlly good condition. The use Of
ordinary intelligence in the case Of
n treatment of our trees with the
ordinary means at hand ppear al
the present time to be all that is
needed to keep them in healthy con.
ditlon to serve the purpose for which
they are intended.
Much harm may be done to tree.
by improper pruning and improper
care. The following is taken from
FORESTRY in Minnesota by Prof. Sam
uei b. Green and gives briefly som.
very pertinent and valuable sugges
tinna and We quote it here for the
bencfifit of the citizens of Mitchell
having tress on their premises ant
who wsb to bring them to theiI
highest degree of usefulness ant
beauty:
Pruning should be avoided a.
much as possibls, and yet be don,
sufficiently to secure the effect de
sired. II it is heugn early in til,
life of a tree no large branche:
need be removed, the most de
sirabie pruning being the directing
OF the growth by p%inching off tn,
buds that would develop into un
desirable branches; but this is i'm
practicable on a large scale, and TO.
tthis season it is often necessary to d.
more extensive pruning.
The purpose of pruning trees i
to! give them Forms that are desir
able for the purpose, intended. Fo.
example, a tree for the lawn or wind
break may be most desirable whei
covered with branches even down t,
the ground, while street trees shout,
have a trunk free from branches 70
eight or ten feet from the ground
Many of the 'e~vergreens, and som
other trees used for ornament nat
uraly take on so regular and desir
able a form that it is not necessar,
to prune them, except perhaps t.
pinch OIL cut off an extra leadin,
shoot that Is likely to. make a forket
tap, WHILE the ayWhite. ELM, Sof
Maple, and Nothers. need. goecasiona
pruning to remove or shorten awk
Ward branches, at least while TIL,
tree is young and growing rapidly.
The proper time for pruning Il
determined by the effect of the op
Grafton upon the health of the tree
Dead branches may be safely remov
ed at any season. The removal of liv,
branches during the growing season
lessons the leaf surfase, and henc,
checks growth. Pruning when tn,
tree is dormant results in a NOR,
vigorous growth in the remainin.
branches. Wounds made by pruning