Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-04-02
PRUNING TREES
TO INSURE YIELD
CLOSE ATTENTION MUST BE
GIVEN YOUNG APPLE
ORCHARD.
REMOVE BRANCHES TO
EoUALIzE ROOT SYSTEM
Farther instructions for Orehardists
in Campaign For Greater Yield and
Batter Fruit Production-Prunin
Old and Neglected Trees to Insure
Good Crop--Rsducins Branches.

To obtain the best fruit and the
greatest possible yield the apple or
chard needs closest attention from
the day the young trees are set out
Often care in setting out the tree
means more than close attention art
er the tree has matured. Care OF
the young tree and Of the old neg
Iected tree Is essential and attention
TO pruning Is called to orchardists'
who may grow fruit on a large or
small scale, in the campaign Tor
better and more fruit production now
on in Marshall county.
In setting out young tree 1t must
be borne in mind that about half Oh
the roots have been cut off when the
three was dug in the nursery. Part OF
the branches should be removed 10
euualize the root system with the
top. At the same time a framework
must be established that will make
the tree as strong as possible. Inc
central leader type of tree has been
found the best for Iowa conditions.
This will make tree mechanically
strong enough to hold up a heavy
crop of fruit with the minimum
! hreakage of branches.
Central Leader Type Tree.
The central leader type of tree is
one with one main branch running
UP thru center Of tree with three 70
| five main side, or scaffold branches
coming out around this stem. These
branches should be spaced. if posi-
BILE, about four inches apart on the
main leader. The lower one should
be about thirty inches from the
ground and coming out on the south
west side of the tree. If two branch
es are allowed to grow out at the
same place, a weak crotch is liable to
| develop.
| When these scaffold branches are
chosen the rest of the side branches
should be removed close to the main
branch SO no stub is left. The scat
fold branches should then be cut
back leaving each about twelve inch
es long. Cut each off at bud on the
outside as this will tend to spread
the growth Of the tree outwards
The central leader should then be
cut back. Always leave it longer
than any of~the~ side branches as i
must have this advantage in growth
tc maintain it's leadership If two
branches about the same size are
growing in the center of the tree
either remove one entirely or cut il
Ehack SO it will develop. into scat
| fold branch.
A tree pruned as described above
will make a good growth the first
year and framework is established
that will have much to do with the
life of the new tree and it's produc-
ton of a maximum load of fruit.
Pruning Neglected Apple Trees.
In most farm orchards the ole
properly produce a good crop Of
fruit. BY proper pruning the trees
can be brought back into profitable
bearing. Such trees should not be
too heavily pruned the first year
All dead branches and the branches
that are crossing each other shoulc
be removed the first year. 1t SHOULD
require about three years to get thu
tree in proper shape.
The best way to do this Is to star
at the top of the tree and work down
thinning out smaller branches ant
removing as few large branches a:
possible. In choosing the branch t
be removed no set rule can be lait
down. Usually it is best to leave
| limb where it will not compete too
closely with another, for light ant
space in which to develop. Practice
and good judgment are required.
4 Cut to Leave No Stub.
The important point to bear IL
mind is to make each cut so no stul
is left. A stub will not heal over
Make each cut as close as possible
and parallel to the main branch
Paint each cut over one inch in di
4 ameter with a coat of good thicl
paint. Raw linseed oil and white
lead make a good paint.
i Many trees are too high in the air
These can be reduced by cutting on
the upper branches back to sid
branch which Is growing outwards
i Cut to branch that is not less thai
half the size Of the branch removed