Pruning Trees.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1896, Page 2

Pruning Trees.

— -o We are indebted to Mr J. Fairbairn, of Feilding, for the following remarks on pruning fruit trees : — Pruning may be classed under three heads — viz., winter pruning, summer pruning, and root pruning. Diversity of opinion exists on the subject of pruning apple trees ; some advocate the vigorous use of the knife. From the appearance of some trees I have seen the axe or tomahawk had been applied, to the total destruction of trees. The pruning knife should be sparingly used on young standard trees, which must, however, be worked into a symmetrical form, and this work should be done in the nursery if they have been properly attended to. The only after-pruning necessary will be to keep the centre of the tree as open as possible and to remove all branches which have a tendency to grow out of their place. This may be achieved by the simple, but much neglected, system known as summer pruning, or stopping. If this is attended to there will be little necessity for the knife. When trees become somewhat aged they require more attention, for when it is found they cannot bring all the fruit, which may set, to perfection, it becomes necessary to sacrifice some portion in order to throw strength into the remainder. As long as the tree continues to bear at all the best fruit will ever be at the extremities of the boughs. Nature, therefore, must be followed, or rather in this case anticipated. Once in a couple of years the trees should be gone over and much of the inferior wood cut away. The wear-ing-out wood may early be distinguished by its character; and frequently by its dead parts, which may be taken as an indication of the breakiug-up of th« constitution of the tree. There is no occasion to prune the extreme points ; the removal of the larger decaying branches will suffice. It often happens, nevertheless, that a good deal of young annual spray grows out pf the old branches. Such should be trimmed away, or it will decoy the sap from the more important portions of the trees. Winter pruning may be performed any time between May and the middle of August. To kill codlin moth, leaf-eating beetles, &c, infuse for twenty-four hours 81b of lime in 200 gallons water ; then strain, and add lib of Paris green or London purple, the former being the best. Apply fine spray on the trees as soon as the blossom falls ; the mixture to be kept well stirred during use. Bare the bottom of trees around stock while spraying, and the liquor will kill all blight aud insects. I <— —^— — — — i