Imperial Valley press., 1926-02-06
Pruning Trees
Is Stressed
BY E. L. GARTHWAITE
Agricultural Extension Service

Many deciduous fruit growers in
the county are neglecting one of
the most important operations OH
the fruit growers caiendar, namely
that of pruning. Without proper
pruning, deciduous fruit trees viii
not continue long to bear profitable
crops of fruit.
The system of pruning advocated
by the Agricultural Extension Serv-
Ice is known as the long or
'nigh renewal system of pruning
us distinguished from the "short -
or heading back method former
" used over he state. This long
pruning system mas been so univer
sally Successful that it is now prac-
ticed by nearly all fruit growers in
California. SO far as known, every
large commercial orchard in Impe-
rial Valley is now pruned according
to this system. Emil Steiner CT
Brawley was the first local grower
to change over to the new system.
The, following year Chris Westgard
aiso of Brawiey pruned part of his
orchard 'long' and the balance
short. - After harvesting his crop
Westgard told the writer that the
long pruned trees had given him
Profit Of a thousand dollars over
his "short' 'pruned trees, because
they had a larger crop and had ma,
tured their fruit week earlier.
That was in 1922. Since then
Wcstgard has been pruning his Ell.
tire orcharl "long', which ought to
make him grateful to the Extension
Service by several thousand dollars.
The old Kloke Pear orchard, the
Waterman apricot orchard. the Web
ster apricot orchard and others ali
adopted this "long' pruning sys-
TEN with similar results. There are,
however. few small one acre or
chards that are pruned by the old
'short y or stubbing back
method.
In tests conducted by the Univer-
sity of California over series of
years "long' pruned trees have not
only out yielded the "short' pruned
trees but have produced earle
fruit, have withstood disease better.
have made greater growth of
roots, trunk, tops and are better
able to withstand cold weather.
These tests have been confirmed by
farmers cooperating with the ex-
tension service in all parts of the
state. An essential feature of this
system is proper thinning of the
fruit, and where this has been neg
!ected. poor results have followed.
While every kind of tree, that is.
pears, apricots, plums, ETC., should
be pruned differently, and each in
dividual tee presents a separate
problem, the following general rules
will be helpful.
All spurs, twigs, shoots and
branches should be cut close to the
limb from which they arise. ana
should not be headed nor "stub-
bed. -
2-The total amount of wood re-
moved from any tree will depend
on the amount of growth made last
year, and the amount and kind of
pruning done last year, and soil
3-Not only should enough of the
primary and secondary branches be
thinned out, but also the fruit bear
ing shoots. When very heavy set
of fruit is secured, proper thinning
OF the fruit will result in an increase
sise and quality.
4--ln thinning out main and see
ondary branches, one of the prin-
eipal items to keep in mind is to
get an adequate supply of light to
the interior of the tree.
! 5-Preference should be given to
branches pointing west "the direc-
tion from which our strong winds
come.
+ 6-AH dead wood interfering
branches and diseased parts should
be cut out.
THE farm advisor, court house.
FL Centre, will gladly supply fur
ther information on this subject, or
call at your ranch to give advice on