A PRUNING DEMONSTRATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1517, 13 August 1912, Page 8

A PRUNING DEMONSTRATION.

■ . HINTS TO OKOHARDISTS. ..' A demonstration of pruning fruit trees was given at Levin this week by Mr. G. Stratford, Orchard Inspector for the Agricultural. Department. In the course of his remarks to the assembled rtrcliardists. Mr. Stratford said that the first two years were the most important in pruning. lie preferred' planting' with yearling trees, thus enabling, the. grower to prune in a Uniform manner, and have all the trees headed', the samo height. Before planting, root'pruning was essential, because a good many roots were broken, when being taken from'the nursery, and if put into tho ground in th.it state root _ fungus was liable to occur. After planting, the tops of the trees should ~kz cut to the rifnt height for distribution of branches, usually to about three or four buds, and at the end of the. first season the leaders should/ be ; cut back to four or five buds from last year's pruning. Two branches coming out together should be avoided v ns they were-liable to split. At the end ofthe second year one-third of the growth of vigorous growing plants should be removed; if of smaller growth, then harder cutting to produce growth should ba done. Cut to form more leaders and extend others, making a cup shape tree with open centre. The open-centred tree was advised, as it permitted the sunlight to penetrate into 1 the tree to' mature tho fruit. At this- time the laterals, which would begin to occur during the second year of growth, should be . cultivated. These laterals were .more likely to set fruit than tho upright branches, being horizontal. Mora vigorous growth of up-, rights meant more .wood—not fruit. The one-year laterals should be left severely alone," with tho terminal bud. In the third season pruning should _ be'.pursued in a similar manner, according to the gTowth of tho tree. More lateral wood should bo loft. The laterals could be cut back to tha nearest fruit bud without danger; thus forming a' permanent fruit spnr which would always remain on the tree; Strong laterals' could l>o spurred, back' in the hope' of producing fruit.' Great care should be taken, in cutting to a leaf bud if growth were required. In the fourth year pruning should really got less if the trees had been properly treated during the first three seasons'. All'spurs on the main leaders should bo cultivated, because the best fruit was produced where there was a good supply of sap. The laterals should also be cnltiv.ited;to produce fruit. After making tbese remarks, Mr. Stratford pruned several trees, including "Washington,. Sturmer, and _ Jonathan, showing the correct way in. which to carry out tha work.