The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1915-09-07
BEFORE PRUNING

Just as your boy John seems wholly
different from his brother Richard and
your daughter Helen has to be either
coaxed or punished while Mary is
obedient to the slightest parental sug
gestion, so every tree in your apple
orchard is en- individual problem.
If apple growing is to reach its max
imum possibilities, pruning must be
carefully practiced, horticulturists
agree, but specific rules universally
applicable cannot be laid down.
There are certain general principles,
however, and these F. S. Merrill, as
sistant in horticulture in the Kansas
State Agricultural college, emphasizes.
Not only young trees, but neglected
ones, are discussed by Mr.. Merrill.
Condition Governs Pruning Time.
'The time for pruning" says Mr..
Merrill, will be governed largely by
the condition Of the orchard. Where
winter pruning is not too extensive, it
is usually carried on in the late winter
months. Pruning in winter is not
dangerous to the tree, nor is 1t danger
Gus to saw off a limb when the wood
is frozen. The greatest drawback to
midwinter pruning is the inconven-
fence to the primer.
"The effect of heavy winter prun-
ing is to promote heavy wood and
watersprout growth. The reason for
this is that the roots have been I'M
changed while the top has ben re-
duced. To restore the balance that
normally exists between the top and
the root system, a vigorous growth
takes place. This is important in re-
juvenating old or neglected trees, but
should be avoided in healthy trees of
ever, will not cause the excessive
wood growth, and may keep tree in
good physical condition.
To Increase Fruit Production.
Summer pruning should be done
after the rapid growth Of the spring
has been completed. This type of
pruning tends to overcome the pro-
duction of watersprouts and heavy
wood growth and is frequently rec
commended as an agent for increasing
production in barren trees. The sum-
mer pruning must be light, consisting
in pinching back the growing shoots,
and is not possible except in trees that
have been we'll cared for.
1.-THE pruning should be done annu-
ally. If it is done periodically, the
tree becomes unbalanced and too
many large limbs have to be removed.
Such a condition is liable to be fol-
lowed by heavy wood growth, and
heavy fruit production does not take
place in trees that are making rank
wood growth.
Keep FUNGUS Diseases Out.
Gail cuts should be made close to
the limb from which the branch is to
be cut, and the surface should be as
smooth as possible. This enables the
callus to form and grow most easily.
A cut should never be made so that
water can lodge on or around it, for
such a condition will increase the dan
ger of infection by fungous diseases.
eff a large limb must be removed
the primer must be careful to prevent
the limb from splitting at the base.
He may do this by cutting off the limb
a short distance from the trunk and
then removing the stub. Even this
additional work may be avoided by
making an undercut from one-third to
one-half through the limb. In max
ing such cut, it is often difficult to
have the cuts meet and in that case
the cuts should be smoothed over to
aid the healing process.
How to Treat Young Trees.
1.-THE usual age of trees at the time
of planting is either one or two years