White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-03-02
TEiLs HOW TO PRUsE
!, YOUNG CHERRY TREES

: (By County Agent E. C. Durd!e)
~ The attention of the County Agent
has. been called to the fact that many
OF chr one or two year ole cherry
trees (and probably the same thing
is true of other kinds Of fruit) are
being 4pruned by the same system as
were our young trees IL to l6 years
ago. This means that these trees will
have the same serious defects that
our mature trees hive at this time.
M. D. Armstrong, extension special
ist in horticulture, demonstrated the
proper pruning of these young trees
at the time Of the pruning demonstrat-
ion meetings the first few days Of
February but for fear some growers
did not attend these meetings and in
the hope that some of these growers
NAV read this article, we shall briefly
outline the system recommended by
Mr.. Armstrong.
The one year old cherry tree as set
out will probably be headed at 80 to
40 inches. The 40 inch height is to be
recommended rather than too low.
During the first growing season, after
trees have been set and headed as
above, the top bud will probably make
a very strong growth with probably
one or two fairly strong branches
lower down on the trunk and probably
several very short branches will de-
velop. The next winters pruning is
the period when one has the oipportu-
nifty to do more toward the proper
shaping Of the trees than will prob
ably ever be true later and this is
the period in the deveiopmenr OF the
t-ee that fruit growers should especi-
ally watch.
One should develop or main
scaffold branches and these should be
so spread that there will be from 20
to 80 inches between the bottom
branch and tile top, if one w1snes to
keep away from the bad crotch form
alton which is so prevalent in our
o,acr orchards. II in this seasons
pruning it is possible to select two
or three lower branches with strong
branch growing from the top bud it
will spread as recommended above
and also have the proper spacing
srounc! the tree one is lucky. In the
great majority of cases however one
will be able to select probably but one
main branch below and will then have
to develop new branches on the strong
branch growing from the top bud.
Branches which one does not wish to
continue to develop NAV be shortened
back by checking their growth, but
! ranches which one wishes to be-
come one of the scaff0'd branches
shoul6! be headed very little if at all.
Branches which may have the proper
position on the trunk both as for vert
ical and lateral spacing may be stin1u-
lated into greater growth often by
above them with sharp
knife, taking out bark as well as a
thin piece of the wood. Buds may also
be stimulated to develop branches by
this method.
BY this method Of pruning h will
tsfSe year longer to develop the real
frame w>k of our tree but It py
taking this added year we can develop
trees free of the serious crotch pro-
lem that many CT our older trees
have at the present time, 1t certainly
will pay to give this a6iled time.
1t is difficult explaining thru news
article just the method to be followed
and what might be done under vary
ing conditions. The county agent
would be glad to cooperate with any
grower having this problem atathis
time and assist him in pruning few