ART OF PRUNING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1939, Page 3

ART OF PRUNING

ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN. To be able to prune a fruit tree correctly it is necessary to know the object of pruning. The first principle is, of course, to form the tree. Fruit trees are grown in certain forms for definite reasons, and these forms can be obtained only by a correct method of pruning. Thus we have cordons of various types, bush trees, half-standards, standards, pyramids, espaliers and fan-shaped trees. All these forms are obtained by certain methods for definite purposes. Cordons are fruit trees with single, double or treble fruiting stems, and they may be trained in an oblique or upright position. Where it is desired to furnish a given space quickly or to grow a selection of the better-class varieties of apples, pears or plums, no better type of tree could be adopted. The aim of the pruner in this case would be to produce numerous fruit spurs on the main stems with the minimum extension of lateral growths. Closely allied to this type of tree is that known at “Lee's Fuseau.” It is an upright, self-supporting cordon, or miniature pyramid, with radiating branches about a foot in length. The height of this type of cordon is limited to about 6ft by being worked on re-' striding root-stocks, and by a system of manuring. Bush trees have stems from 18in to 24in in height, from the top of which the main branches radiate outward in goblet formation. This form of tree is easily managed and it has the further advantage that sunlight is admitted to all parts of the tree. All kinds of hardy fruits, with the exception of the Morello cherry, may be grown in bush form. Half-standaid trees are those with stems 4ft to 4ft Gin in height, the branches forming the framework of the tree radiating outwards in cup formation. Standard trees should have clear stems at least 6ft in height, and are best suited for orchards or large fruit plantations. This type of tree is becoining unpopular, particularly among commercial growers, chiefly because it is difficult to spray effectively, difficult to prune and hard to harvest. Moreover

such trees remain many years before coming into bearing profitably. Trees trained in pyramid form have an erect central stem, from which the branches radiate outwards, in tiers, more or less. Pears are now almost the only fruits grown in this form. _ j The espalier is a form of training suitable for walls and fences. There are perpendicular central stems with side, cordon-like branches, in tiers at right angles, about Ift apart. Apples and pears are sometimes trained in this form, but it is not suitable for any of the stone fruits. In fan-trained trees, the branches radiate from one common centre, and it is in this form that all our stone fruits, such as plums, cherries, apricots and peaches should be grown when trained on walls or fences. In the case of cordon fruit trees, the first essential is to secure trees which have been worked on appropriate dwarfing root-stocks, and then to shorten the leading shoot at each winter pruning, slightly or severely, in order to secure a sufficient number of lateral shoots which may, by strict system of summer pinching, be induced to form short fruiting spurs. To form a bush, the selected “maiden tree” is cut back, during the first winter to three prominent growth buds at about knee height. The following season, these buds should produce good strong shoots. During the second winter, these shoots should be shortened to 12in from the main stem. Care must be taken to cut back to an outside bud or to a bud pointing in the direction you wish the future growth to take. Formation of a bush tree, or halfstandard, varies only in the length of stem, which may take two years to form, but the formation of the head is the same in principle. Pruning should be so carried out as to secure the requisite number of primary shoots to lay the foundation of the future tree, and. in succeeding years, to ensure that lateral shoots are formed at regular intervals along the main branches. I