The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-05-20
TREE CARE DEMONSTRATION.
Washington County Agent Interests
Many Farmers.

Twenty.four farmers and men interest
| ed in the care of fruit trees witnessed a
pruning demonstration which was given
yesterday afternoon at the farm of A. Il
Smith and son on the east hill by County
Agent i. FL. Abbott Of the Washington
County Farmers association.
The first demonstration was an illus
tration of the two main methods of prun-
ing two and three year-old trees. The
scaffold method and the upright stock
method were illustrated on trees adapted
for the purpose. On the older trees, those
from five to six years old, was shown the
proper manner OF cutting out the tops to
give more open formation in the center
of the tree and also to keep the height
down for greater facility of harvesting
and spraying.
On the still older trees the agent
showed how it was possible to make the
bearing branches come out nearer the
ground by cutting off the tops of main
branches and also to give them greater
opportunity for growth by cutting out
deadwood.
The wounds caused by the cutting were
washed with solution of corrosive sub
Innate Tone tablet to pint of water
and the larger of them were painted
with white lead and oil. Mr.. Abbott ex-
planned that on the older trees having
many sprouts, it is usually advisable to
train these sprouts into productive wood
rather than to try to save the older
branches. These sprouts may be cut back
and handled in the same manner as a
l. l.
usually to be obtained from such treat
ment
Proper tillage of the soil in young
orchard is of considerable Importance
Perhaps the best method is the practice
Of yearly ploughing and the planting of
some such crop as buckwheat or peas
and oats which may be used either as
green feed or may be ploughed under as
4 soiling crop. This keeps the ground |
oosened, furnishes moisture and makes |
plant food more available to the trees.
1t is not advisable in the case of young
.rees to attempt to do all the pruning at !
'nce but it is better to work gradually
.oward the desired shape from year to
rear by the cutting out of the smaller
branches and allowing the laterals to fill
n the open spaces. The essential point
n pruning is the cutting back of from
me third to one-half of the last years
-rowth on the upright and outward grow
ng sprouts on the outside and top of the
rec with the object of securing greater
The spraying of the trees was briefly
discussed by the demonstration, who said
hat, under local conditions, the young
richard which Is not affected with any
isease will probably be sufficiently pro-
ected with one spraying a year This
hould take place directely after the fall
~ of the blossoms and the spray should
e directed at the ends of the branches
nd the top and sides of the tree in order
D reach the calyx end of the apples. !
he object Of spraying is mainly to afford
rejection from the Goblin moth. the
mixer worm and the apple scab and the !
,ilroad worm. The proper spraying fluid !
lould be made up of one gallon of the c
lime sulphur compound to 40 I
lllons of water. Two and half pounds v
arsenate OF lead should also be added o
! a poison to the eating insects. 4
Mr.. Smith plans TO carry on one of the Q
'gular orchard demonstrations under a
le direction of the agent and for this Q
irpose some Of the trees are left un-
-uned and unsprayed for the purpose of
at later meeting 1t is the
,pe Of the county agent that more Of
Ie farmers Of Washington county viii
come sufficiently interested in the care
their orchards to confer with him and y
discuss means and methods of improv- y
q their frnif frees Itl