The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1914-09-12
HOW TO TRIM
TREES What
AUTHOR|T|E'S5S'AI'Y||' y

nU'HU'ntlUun lnlt a. Y u
Prof. Bailey of Cornell, one Of the
horticultural authorities Of the
world, says that severe pruning Of
trees at any time is mistake. The
proper. season for pruning, he says,
is when the trees are dormant. ~
On September End this office sent
letters to the nursery companies Of
North Dakota asking advice on tree
trimming in this northern country.
A clipping Dickinson Tree Trim
mers) from this paper of August
29th, was enclosed. 3s s$
Oscar H. Will, pioneer nursery and
scotsman of North Dakota, who has
been in business continuously for 33 :
years at Bismarck, says:
Cali varieties of trees may be ju-
diciously pruned and trimmed dur
ing the dormant period except
naples, of which the box elder is a
species. Box elders must be
trimmed in the growing season in
summer, otherwise they will lose SO
much sap in spring as to retard their
growth If not kill the trees outright.
Trimming is considered necessary,
but trees must be trimmed carefully.
It is bad form to cut trees to pieces as
described in the article you sent us.
Mr.. Will says whole lot more and
If any one is interested they can read
his entire letter by calling at the
PRESS office. .~. H.. ...-
The Northwest Nursery Co. of
Valley City were also sent clipping
from the PRESS of August 10th, and
this, in part, is what they say:
"Box elders need all the encourage
ment to grow tall that they can get.
They need trimming Of the lower
branches that are too near the
ground. This throws the growth to
the upper tree and makes them grow
upward, giving them the height need
ed to make good shade trees. =,
This man has probably spoiled
some good trees and they will always
look like bushes rather than trees
He must have got his idea from some
formal drives he has seen in the
South. Often people who like curios
in their landscape work will treat
trees and bushes in this way. This
method is entirely out Of date in this
country and never was in style with
good landscape gardeners. You will
find It severely condemned by all good
landscape architects.
Ones own good taste is usually
right in this and rebels at such un-
natural treatment Of plants. I am
sure you will take steps to enlighten
the people on whom he is practicing
his art. -'.
An illustrated lecture on landscape
gardening, held under the auspices
of the Commercial Club or the Inn
provement League, would be a good
thing for the citizens Of your town.
This usually awakens better judg-
ment in the people and creates an 2
interest"
Prof. G. B. Waldron of the North
Dakota Agricultural College has this
to say:
In reply to your inquiry Of Septem-
ber End / will say that can hardly
see what the reason would be for
cutting off the tops Of trees that are
wanted for shade. We certainly pre-
fer ours with the tops on. About the
only pruning that the larger shade
tree needs is to cut off some Of the
lower brances when they hang too
low for the. comfort of the pedes-
trians. In addition to that, dense
growing trees like the box eide. are
improved by cutting out some OF the
inner branches so as to throw the
growth into the upper and outer
branches. An elm tree sometimes
gets to leading off too far in one di-
rection when it becomes necessary to
head it back on that side in order to
make it more symmetrical. The ash
never needs any pruning except while
it is young to get the head at the
right height. It is the practice OF
some to cut off the tops of very rap
idly growing cottonwoods for the
sake Of making them more spreading.
It does bring about that effect,
temporarily, but the trees soon regain
their original shape. So that little
or nothing is gained. Trees that have
been properly trained from their
youth up need almost no pruning
with the exception Of the box elder,
for reasons that I have named.