The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-03-27

tural branches. With overgreel
however, the branching should b
symmetrical and complete from tn
greensward to the topmost branches
z 4-vergreens, particularly spruces an
, pines. which have lost their lowe
branches have also lost their beaut
and value as ornamental plants o
specimen trees. With deciduou
trees. however, the shading of tn
lower branches from the thicken
ing OF the leaf canopy above dis
coureges their growth and very fire.
lQuently results in their death. 1t
therefore necessary that small
branches which are in any wa!
shaded be removed. A very larg.
part of this pruning can, however
be overcome by q judfcious arrange
ment. of the main structural branche,
at planting time.
How Branches Should be DISPOSED
The arrangement or the branches
may be described as follows: First
the branches should be disposed al
equal distances about the main stem
by axis of the plant, 80 that as the
tree grows the main branches shall
completely occupy the space and pro-
wide for symmetrical development
of the tree. Second, the branches
| should be disposed at some distance
from one another along the central
axis of the tree; that Is, the whorl
Of branches, which is to be disposed
equally about the body of the tree
should not be in the same place. The
lower branch may be five or six feet
from the turf line, the second branch
should be at an angle of 33 or As
degrees from the first one and sew
eral inches above 1t rather than In
the same plane with it. The third
branch, which may be 66 orN90 de-
grees from the first, should be from
four to eight inches above the second
branch, and SO on, until the whOrl
of branches around the body is COM
plete and arranged as nearly as pos
sible at equal distances from each
other. The reason for such an ar
rangement of branches is that the
tree when old is much less liable to
injury from heavy SHOWS or severe
winds. The union between the
branch and the body is more perfect
when the branches leave the main
stem at different heights than when
they all come or at above the same
place.
Main Branches
Again, it is more desirable to have
the main structural branches of the
limbs of about equal size rather than
Of two. A tree which divides into
two limbs, which again subdivide to
likely to split than tree with sew
o. vol he ~
heights upon the main axis. 1t
gardener In forming the head of the
tree to provide against any natural
tendency in the plan to divide in
.wos. This tendency, as has already
been noted, is characteristic of the !
silver maple and to a less extent of
he elm, both of which are desirable
trees.
Orchard Trees
What has been stated in regard
o forming the head of trees in gen.
,ral applies equally well to orchard
rees, with the exception that in the
ase of orchard trees the head
hOuld be very much closer to the
round than with ornamental trees.
Commercial orchards of apples and
'ears are nowadays headed much
over than formerly, three feet be-
ng very common height for start
ng the head of these plants, while
With the peac hand plum the head is '
tarted even lower, Is or 20 inches
eing a common height. The reason
or this is that in certain localities,
there windstorms are frequent, the
ow-headed trees when pruned as
bove indicated are less likely to be
roken, lose smaller proportion Of
heir fruit, and are less subject to :
injury from sun scald, as the low :
cad of the tree serves to certain !.
xtent as a shade for the body. The
ost of harvesting the fruit from
,w-headed trees is much less than
nat of gathering from tall trees.
With the low-headed trees con-
derable portion of the crop can be =
altered by the picker standing :
pom the ground, while with high
eaded trees the major part of the
ork must be done from ladders,
hich greatly extends the time re-
uired to do the picking and conse- =
uently increases its COST
/ ~