Evening journal., 1915-03-22
TREE-PRUN|NG TIME
Comes With Spring
Care Must be Taken Dur
ing Thinning
Season
SOME RULES FOR
THE NOVICE

With April's approach comes the
time for the pruning of fruit trees and
vines of all kinds. Few persons, ex-
cept experts along this line. realize
the great amount of care which must
be taken in the thinning and pruning
OF trees and vines. Fruit and shade
trees alike If the best results are TO
be secured require constant attention
in order to acquaint the ordinary per-
son, how, in a great measure. to keep
trees and vines in better shape. in a
recent interview an expert gave the
following suggestions:
In apple trees each year an over
surplus of growth is always made. If
the operator. when pruning. will work
on limbs that grow straight up. and
cut them out. he will go a long way
toward shaping a modern apple tree.
The operator must always bear in mind
the importance of saving limbs that
grow perpendicular, letting them grow
as long as they will. The growth that
comes on, known as suckers, should
be studied as some of these suckers
ala in giving Of better shape TO the
tree as well as making new growth.
Every person having fruit trees Of
any kind should now make frequent
visits to them. and perseverance in
these visits will bring a constantly
growing knowledge regarding the care
of your trees. Wake up to the indif-
ference you have displayed and ask
yourself whether since you have
planted this fruit you have given it
it the attention it deserved.
Regarding the pruning of grape
vines. il is a well known fact that the
average person in pruning grape
vines knows little in regard to the
growth he cuts off or lets stand. and
the reasons therefore. There is no
novice who will not trim his grape
vines better than the average have
been pruned. if he adheres TO the
following rule. To begin with, you
must understand that It is the last
years growth that produces the crop
of grapes this year. Many persons
think that by leaving them one dozen
to as many as 20 buds stand they
get a larger quantity Of grapes. This
is not true. If you pursue such meth
DDS, you will see that the buds are
beginning where the growth begins,
mechanically die and that about two
or three buds at the far end throw
out new wood, and the consequence is
that the next year you have a lot of
dead wood on your vines that bear
you nothing.
"If you adhere strictly to cutting
off all new wood to three buds. no
more, you will then make better vines
as these three buds are always sure
to grow and from each one of these
buds you should get from two TO three
lunches of grapes. which insures your
getting from these three buds a total
of six to nine lunches.
This method will always keep your
vines within reaching distance. Each
year you pursue the same treatment
never leaving under any circum-
stances moro than three buds of the
( fruiting vine. This method also
makes back pruning an easy task. as
year year you have ample growth to
allow this, keeping your bines always
within easy reach for harvesting the
crop.
"A word to the city man concern
| ing his shade trees. II is also a no.
! ticeable fact that many trees that arc
! bought and accepted by our city folks
are very ungainly TO begin WITH show
ing lack of attention Of the nursery
man. DO not accept a shade tree that
is not straight, nor one that cannot
be headed at least six feet from the
| ground. Now is the time to prun,
them, and when cutting off limb, al
ways cut it off neat TO the trunk there
by insuring speedy healing. In cut
ting of heavy limbs. cover wound a
once with a heavy lead paint. and pain
at once. Further tack a galvanized
covering over it. making il less liable
to decay. Examine your trees care
fully for scale which is now destroy
ing trees in this State by the thous
ands. Cut off all limbs affected ant
that can be spared then get in tOucl
with the people that make a business
Of spraying trees.
do not make the mistake wheI
planting shade trees. on the street. 4
brick up tight to the tree. Leave tn
ground loose and free the length o
SO inches by 20 inches from the curb
This allows air for the roots as we'll a
moisture to penetrate the roots. DO no
allow your shade trees to throw on
branches nearer the ground than 81.
or seven feet.