WINTER PRUNING OF TREES AND VINES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 287, 4 August 1888, Page 3

WINTER PRUNING OF TREES AND VINES.

In cases where this is necessary the work should nob be delayed later than this monfch^ -at all events in the northern parts of the colony. Here are some plain and sensible hints on the subject from a practical roan :—: — The season approaches for owners of fruit trees-, grape vines and shrubbery to have them properly pruned, since much depends on this work to obtain success. The question arises, how is it to be done, as even few gardeners have an idea how to distribute the flow of sap so as to give the tree a symmetrical form, or understand the formation of fruit buds. Under no consideration should pruning shear? be used on pears, apples, cherries or plum trees. The buds of these tree are close together, the best of shears will bruise the bark, the bud will dry up, and the second will take a start, consequently you will have a dried up snag from one to two inches long.. T hese trees are best pruned with a good sharp knife, or a fine cutting saw may be used on the larger limbs, in order to make a clean cut, which will heal up niqely. Also observe closely that you cut to an eye which will start the new growth away from the centre of the tree. Most trees have a tendency to grow too thick in the centre, and to" prevent this, prune the way Where large limbs are close together, take a small stick, sharpen it so it tapers on both ends, brace it these limbs ; will stay so separated, after a while they On grape vines the shears may be used ; if you should cub too close to an eye it may .ibleed, andjmake a weak growth, and the

two-year-old wood is removed to make room for last year's growth. Nothing 1 is gained by leaving your main branches too long. Everywhere you may observe old grapo vines which have a fow straggling branches left on top. The flow of sap. if not restrained, has a tendency to run to the extremities, the consequence being that the lower lateials cannot obtain their share of sap, and will therefore make a weak growth : in a few years will dry up altogetner, and leave an unsightly trunk.