PRUNING FRUIT TREES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1838, 11 June 1918, Page 3

PRUNING FRUIT TREES.

DEMONSTRATION BY GOVERN-

MENT EXPERT,

A demonstration of fruit tree pruning was given in Mr R. -J. Thompson’s orchard yesterday afternoon, under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, by Mr G. H. Cunningham, Government orchard instructor. About 20 adults were present, and also a number of 'the senior scholars of the State School, in charge of the head te;tcher. The new method of pruning now adopted by the Department is what is called the “lateral system,” which has been proved to be a great improvement on the old system. Mr Cunningham explained that it was necessary to induce lateral growth, which growth'is the future hearing wood. The whole system of lateral pruning is "founded on the production of laterals, which ahe so necessary to crop production. The old method, which is not encouraged, was to cut laterals back to two or three buds, the theory being that those buds would set to fruit buds. As a matter of fact, by so cutting, one would induce a stronger wood growth, and obtain little or no fruit. The new system was to cut back the stronger growth, and thus encourage a large growth of the weaker laterals, which was the fruiting wood.

Mr Cunningham first demonstrated on peach trees, stating that in peaches a large weak lateral growth was necessary, as it was from this growth that the fruit was obtained, and it was essential to cut back the stronger growths each season, which had the effect of creating a larger growth of weaker laterals. The old system of tipping was responsible for die-back, and was entirely wrong. He also demonstrated on pruning for shape. In pruning apple trees, the demonstrator pointed out that this Mass of tree could be cut much harder than peaches, but that the system adopted was on the same lines. Mr Cunningham also gave demonstrations on plum and peartrees, and stressed the necessity of spraying.