The state herald., 1917-03-02
rops OF TREES FULL OF BRUSH AND WATER SPROUTS

TOPo OF TREES FULL OF DF
States department Of Xsricuiture.)
II the best results are to follow the
planting Of an orchard, 1t is essential
that the trees receive good cultivation.
While the details Of practice differ
widely and the methods that give good
results In one section may not succeed
In some other where the conditions are
different, the frequent stirring Of the
soil during the growing seasOn is as
logical as 1t Is In growing crop Of
corn. potatoes or cabbages, and for the
same reasons. It Is true that trees are
sometimes planted in sod and never re-
ceive cultivation, yet are successful
In some measure. But In most cases
Of this sort, the degree Of success OBJ
tained Is probably In spite of the sod,
not because of It. !.
The objects Of cultivation are usual-
ly attained when It IL done frequently
enough to maintain a good. fine soil
mulch on the surface. Cultivation
should begin us soon ms the soil is in
condition to work In the spring; It
should usually cease by midseason, or
by the middle of July or first of Au-
gust.
Pruning.
The pruning Of fruit trees is nn op-
eration that Is very frequently much
neglected, yet 1t is one of the most i'm
portant.
The pruning OF tree ut the time Of
planting has been described. Subse-
quent pruning should be done each
year during the dormant period. pref
erably In late winter or early spring.
In case Of young trees that have
been growing rapidly. the previous sea-
sons growth IL commonly cut back
one-half Its length. Sometimes even
larger portion is cut OF. The limbs
should also be thinned out enough to
keep the top sufficiently open to admit
sunlight and air. Pruning tc keep the
top open should always be kept in
mind. Unless the trees are pruned
from the very beginning with this OBJ
ject In view. It Is almost impossible
10 to prune them Inter In their life
when the tops become dense and
brushy. II the tops are too dense. the
fruit cannot color well and thorough
spraying is impossible.
Less pruning Is required. as rule.
after the trees come Into bearing.
though It Is just as important TO give
them regular and thorough attention
nfter they begin to bear Us It is before.
While pruning has to be modified to
suit the style Of training employed
with any given plant. each species Of
plant bears Its fruit In a peculiar man.
ner, which renders the maintenance Of
wood Of certain nge md character
necessary in order to secure n crop Of
fruit.
Apple and Pear.
In the case Of the apple and tho
pear. the fruits nre borne upon "spurs"
Of the previous years growth only.
these spurs appear upon wood one
year or more Of age. Heading in or
shortening each shoot Of the seasons
growth, therefore. must be donc with
cnre In order not to reduce the bear
ing wood beyond a profitable limit.
With these two plants. however, the
bearing shoots arc not those making
the most vigorous growth Mt tho ends
Of tho branches, but they nre usually
more obscurciy located upon the sides
Of the branches, and mike n much
smaller growth. for which rcnson they
have been termed spurs.
Peach and japanese Plum.
with the peach. however. It IL the
wood Of tho Inst seasons growth upon
which tho fruits arc directly borne.
and with them hcnding.in mny be suc.
cessfully employed to limit the qunnti-
". Of fruit borne by tho tree. Jnpn-
ncse plums bcar on both ycar-old
wood and spurs; pruning mny. there
fore. be used to thin the fruit. tho
snmc M In the cnse of the pcnch.
ouInes.
Tho ounce bears Its fruit Mt tho cx-
trcmity Of now shoots Of tho present
seasons growth, In which respect It
differs from both Its close relatives,
tho apple md the pcnr; but m these
shoots arise from wood Of tho previous
scnson's growth. pruning must bc 30
adjusted TINT tho fruit crop will not
be reduced.
Grape.
Tho grnpc bears Its fruit on shoots
n the scnson. which In turn usually
rrisc from canes Of the previous ysnr'r