The state herald., 1915-03-05
By sYLvANus VAN AKEN)

A system OF pruning which has re-
ceived some favor is to cut back the
young growth in June. 1t is difficult
to say what the ultimate results OF
such system of pruning will be, but
from one years experience the re-
suits seem satisfactory The long
growth is stopped and many short
twigs are forced out among the limbs
With such scraggly. scrawny grow
ers as the Burbank plum, the results
will indicate that more compact and
symmetrical trees will be formed By
the summer pruning.
Orchard trees may be pruned any
time from late fall TO May, depending
somewhat on latitude. The most com.
mon time OF doing it is on a pleasant
day in February, March or April
A fine, sharp saw. knife or pair of
small pruning shears are the only i'm
plements usually required, but ] use
long-handled pruning shear and also
n good saw hung on an oight-foot pole.
This does away with all ladder work
For small trees up to twelve feet
high, such as pear and plum, pruning
shears will be found the quickest. II
a ladder must be used to work on, IL
should be a stepladder. rs the limbs
are not strong enough TO bear the
weight of man In the center OF the
tree without the possibility OF break
Ing or peellng the bark.
Set the ladder close to the tree at
one side and begin pruning from the
bottom. going up step by step and
drawing toward you all branches you
can reach.
Before setting the ladder one should
look the tree over carefully and de-
eide Just which branches should be
removed and where they should be
cut. us well as the amount OF head.
Ing In.
II all trees are allowed to take
their natural form as nearly as possi.
BILE. and not pruned to one desired
shape. much labor will be saved.
Large apple trees which have been
properly pruncd every year or two,
need to have removed only dead
branchea. the water sprouts and such
other branches as cross one another
or In some way interfere with other
limbs.
As the tree grows larger and older,
the spread will become greater. and
small branches In the inner part OF
the head will gradually become un.
fruitful and should be removed.
On NIL such trees n sharp. flnc saw
IL necessary. n coarse saw making too
ragged and rough wound. Make the
first cut from the under side OF the
limb. to prevent splitting or tearing
of the bark as the branch drops on,
Then cut from above. making the cut
as nearly perpendicular ms possible.
All limbs should be cut nj the small
est part, yet ns close TO the trunk or
main limb ms practical.
After saving on. trim the edges
smooth with n sharp knife and cover
the wound with paint. using none
which, contains turpentinc.
Cutting, the edges smooth induces
more rapid healing. while painting the
wood keeps out fungi and rain and
prevents decay.
Old trees which have not been
pruned for some years viii need a
thorough renovation, II viii be found
Mt times necessary 10 cut out rome VI
the limbs before one can climb tree,
Care must be taken no, TO remove
too much oi III. TOP during one year.
and not over one'fourth should be
taken out Cut OF, all dead branches
The tree will probably contain n
great many sprouts Of several years
growth aud many Of these should be-
romo, ed However. where they arc
several inches IN diameter, 40 In Fome'
times the case, few may be left IA
form new head
n one wishes 20 graft undesirable
trees 10 good varieties these sprouts
wi be- ~ value IN which 10 rot the
sciohs snd form tho new head
Experience aud observation arc