Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1917-02-02
DALLAS, POLK COUNTY OREGON FRIDAY FEBRUARY O. 1917
TELLS HOW TO PRUNE.
o. A. c. PROFESSOR TALKS TO
LOCAL FRUIT GROWERS.
Lecture Is Supplemented By Prac-
tical Demonstration in Orchards;
Fruit Physiology Explained.

More than 40 fruitgrowers of Poll
county attended the lecture by Pro.
fessor W. S. Brown. of the Oregon
Agricultural college, on pruning yes.
terday morning and went with hin
to the Roy Craven orchard in the af-
t"rgoon for a practical demonstration
oil te points touched upon in his
ta!h.
TLe lecture took up pruning from
The steudpoint of plant physiology
and proved very instructive. The
professor first told how the plant OF
young tree gets its food supply. BY
q process of osmosis, the food is
token from the soil by the root hairs
the crude sap goes right up the tree
and then out to the leaves, or tho
stomach of the plant. A radical
chemical change takes place when the
sunlight reaches the green leaves
carbohydrates are formed like sugar
which go down the tree, strengthen
ing it as they 60, He explained that
girdling kills trees because it cuts of
the sap supply and the roots die. One
idea in pruning is to get as many
branches as possible exposed to the
sunlight, in order to supply more
food to the tree.
Two reasons were given for the
side or lateral branches bearing first
The central branches get the strong
est flow of sap and push out wood
growth instead of bearing. The side
branches bend and the construction
keeps the food out on the end.
Professor Brown explained that II
was necessary to understand the mi-
nor differences in the growth of the
various fruits and even in the diff
ferent varieties Of the same fruit
in order to prune intelligently. AS
an illustration he told how many cut
off fruit buds because some varieties
bear fruit buds on the ends OF the
short shoots near the center OF the
tree. Stone fruits, like the peach,
never do; they have leaf buds, only,
on the tips.
"Root pruning is just as important
as limb pruning" said the lecture.
"The rough ends should be cut OH,
back to the live wood. If two roots
bind on one another, the weaker
should be cut out and the little n
brous roots near the center should
he cut out because they dry up and
die. interfering with the packing oil
the soil around the tree"
In heading, the best plan is to pick
ont from three to FIVE good limbs
that will make a good balance and
prune accordingly. Professor Brown
cautioned the fruit men not to haek
away at the small branches all sum
mer. or the stomach of the tree would
be injured by the loss of leaves de.
a good stocky tree, with good roof
system. first, and then pick out the
main limbs, was his advice. :.
The critical period of a tree Is
when it is from five to eight years
old. Too heavy pruning up to TINS
time puts off the bearing and TENDS "a
TO produce suckers, or worthless Ut T.
tIe shoots. On the other hand, Il
foo thick a growth is allowed mildeW
and seab and other diseases are ma
be to get a foOthOld: The tree :
sbouId be topped as lightly as i;
consistent with its strength anG
shane. The small branches shoulC ,
he thinned sufficiently to allow hgn'
and air TO reach the tree. Poorly 10
oatad branches may be left until tne
traa is in full bearing, before tne'
are removed.
"summer pruning has not peer
studied as a science until very re, Re,
osntIv,n said Professor Brown. !" II
Is fsi1, important, however, and should BE-
- ,,sad as a supplement to winter prun'
;ns % Summer pruning tends to brlns
the tree into bearing earlier. car ::
should be taken in not doing I'M,
simmer work too late, as that woule
,aance the vigOr in the side branches
s tbe cut branches would not ma
,nrs tnr no well to stand the follOWinl
.u,e ..- From the last of May t.
The first of July is the proper tim' ~
for ~ Young trees not in bearing