PRUNING FRUIT TREES ("R.O." in the N.Z. Country Journal.)

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1243, 17 June 1880, Page 3

PRUNING FRUIT TREES ("R.0." in the N.Z. Country Journal.)

The fall of the leaf always brings work of an entirely different character from that which has occupied the attention of the cultivator during the months of summer and early autumn. Not the least important in many respects is that of pruning fruit trees, and a few words of advice to those of your readers who have had little or no experience in the various methods adopted by practical gardeners may be of some advantage at this parti - culiar season of the year. To try and make the matter as clear as possible, it will, I think, be the most advisable course to pursue, to point out the usual practices following in pruning trees planted in the orchard; and also those planted in the kitchen or vegetable garden. It must be borne in mind, that where orchards are planted, the intention generally is to sell most of the fruit, and the first if not the greatest consideration, is to get the largest marketable quantity possible, consistent with keeping the trees in a healthy state. This can only l>e done by judicious pruning, providing the trees have been planted in suitable soil, and the distance between each tree is such as to give plenty of air and sunshine for maturing the wood, and ripeuing the fruit. It must therefore be assumed that all this has been attended to at the time of planting the orchard — that the ground has been subsoiled or trenched ; that poor soils have been enriched by the incorporation with them of large quantities of luunus ; that wet soils have been thoroughly drained ; and soils too peaty have been limed. Trees for an orchard should have a clear stem of at least three feet, and in cases where it is ultimately intended to sow down to grass under the trees for the purpose of grazing, a clear stem of five or six feet may be preferable, so as to allow the stock plenty of head room. This point being settled, and the trees having been planted at their respective distances, and securely staked, the shoots should be shortened back one-third of last season's growth, and any shoot that indicates a tendency to overlap another should either be cut away altogether, or shortened to a bud that shows an indication of growing in the right direction. The small spray must also be cut back to an inch in length, which will induce fruit spurs to be formed. The same course of pruning and regulating will be all that will be required during the next three or four years, and by that time a large evenly balanced head will have been formed. The tree may then be allowed to grow without any knife work having to be resorted to in the future, and should the habit of the tree be such that the branches need thinning-, the small hand-saw will be found of far greator advantage than the knife. The cultivator will find that each variety of tree has a particular habit of growth peculiar to itself, great judgment will therefore bo required in noting thcho peculiarities of growth, so that nature mny be assisted in exerting her fullest powers to the attainment of the object sought for, namely, the furnishing of an annual crop of superior fruit The treatment of fruit trees planted in the kitchen or vegetable garden is entirely different from that which governs the work in the orchard, inasmuch aa the orchard trees are only pruned for a few years, for the purpose of getting them into a well balanced head of growth; whereas those growing in the kitchen garden roust have systematic pruning from first to rast. There ar« al<*o other considerations to bo taken into account^ such as the particular method of training that is wished to be adopted, as for instance, the pyramidal and the bush form, both of which depend wholly on pruning, and the espalier and cordon system", which require supports. These forms it will be better to t*eat of separately, for the purpose of removing any m'scouception respecting them, and to place the matter as clearly as possible. Let me therefore say a few words ou pyramidal traiaed

trees, and in passing, I may state that, in England, trees for this or any other system can be had partially trained ; in other words, the groundwork is formed in the nurseries, and they can be bought at an enhanced price, over that charged for two year old trees, such as are to be had here. Seeing these partially trained trees cannot be obtained here, the only thing to do is to get good two year old trees, not too leggy. The planting in well prepared soil need not be adverted to, as it is of as much if not more consequence to have the soil in the highest degree suited to the requirements of the kitchen garden, as has been already mentioned in the case of the orchard trees. In planting, each plant should be properly staked, but care must be taken to place a piece of woollen rag between ' the stem of the tree and the stake, so as to prevent the bark being chafed during the prevalence of high winds. The first season a good straight stem must be chosen for a leader, from which will branch the shoots that are to form the sides of the pyramid. This leader will naturally grow stronger than the side shoots, and this tendency must to a certain extent be checked by having 1 the points pinched at once during the growing season, and in the case of very strong growing sorts, two pinchings will be found necessary. The side shoots will require 10 be brought out as nearly at right angles from the leader as may be, and also have their points pinched out it growth of too exiiberant a character is made ; the small side shoots, termed spray, will require outting back to two inches, these will form fruiting spurs, and on them the future crop will depend. The course here described will have to be carried out every year, until the trees arrive at such height as may be found most advisable ; then will come the necessity of maintaining the balance between the roots and the top, and this can readily be done by judicious lifting and root pruning. The greater number of apples will not need much care in this respect but a large number of pears will have to be lifted nearly every second year. Bush training is more applicable for the growth of cherries, plums, peaches, and apricots. It differs only from the above described method in that no leader is allowed, and the branches are trained to form the head of the tree into a cup shape, thus allowing air and sunshine into all parts of the tree, so that the fruit can get the full benefit derivable from them. I will now advert as briefly as possible to trees trained as espaliers, which is perhaps the neatest system to adopt, and also takes up the least ground, although the cost is greater, on account of having to erect a framework of some sort or other on which to train the trees. The person who may fix on this method of training can put up an expensive system of wires and standards or be content with the old-fashioned stakes driven into the ground at short distances apart. Whichever way is chosen, the trees selected should be one year old from the bud or graft, and have only one shoot, which after planting should be cut back to eight inches from the surface of of the soil ; this will cause the tree to break strongly. Three of the strongest shoots initet be chosen, that having the most erect growth being taken straight up, and the two others in a line with the soil but eight inches above it ; all the other shoots being rubbed off The leader will no doubt, on account of its being taken vertically, grow much stronger than the shoots trained horizontally, but this can be taken advantage of by pinching out the point so as to furnish two tiers of horizontal shoots each year, aud in some cases three tiers will be got ; these can be carried along the wires or btakes without having their points pinched out, and at the axils of the leaves short growths will take place, which must be cut back to two inches ; on these the fruit spurs form. Cordons are trained in the same method as espaliers, but are not allowed to run up to more than one or two tiers ; they are more ornamental than useful, and are not applicable to the majority of colonial gardens, where time is an element, and large crops an essential.

If a man have love in his heart, he may talk in broken language, but it will be eloquence to those who listen. When he does get a chance a weatherbeaten fetation hand can "pile it on " to a new chum (says " JEgles" in the Aiibtralasian). Such a one up North was riding over the run with a young and correspondingly innocent late arrival. The veteran was unfolding the mysteries of travelling stock, and keeping up a rnnning fue of cross-examination all the time. " Now, young' un," said he, " if you had a mob of 300 head of cattle travelling, and you put them in the camp at night, how would you count them?" The disciple knew nothing but the ordinary method, and was then informed. " You see, they al ways turn over and sigh at 12 o'clock midnight, and in the darkest night of the year you can cheque over your mob by counting the sighs. " Young Suckdovc firmly believes it to this dny. Do you ?

Monument to the Pjjince Imperial. — By command of the Queen a stone cross has been erected on the spot where the Prince Imperial of France lost his life. The cross bears the following inscription : — " This cro^s is erected by Queen Victoria in affectionate remembrance of Prince Napoleon Eugene Louis Joseph, Prince Imperial, to mark the spot where, while assisting in a reconnaissance with the British troops, on the Ist June, 1879, he was attacked by a party of Zulus, and fell with his face to the foe." Thl" new Pure Cash System now being initiated by G. and C. will certainly pro\e a benefit to the public. It has been a great success in Sydney and Melbourne, and when strictly carried out the customer who buys at an establishment where the goods are marked low to ensure a rapid sale must be a great gainer. G. and C. sell their drapery, millinary, and clothing at such prices for cash as gives the buyer the advantages of a. shareholder in a co-operative society, without the risk of being called upon to bear a portion of the loss should the year's business pro\e unsatisfactory. Garlick and Cranwell \vill aim to retain the confidence which the public have hitherto shown them, and are dctirmined to give the pure cash system a fair trial ; whether they gain or lose the first year. Country buyers on remitting cash with order will be supplied with goods at co-operative prices ; just the same as though they made a personal selection. Furnishing "goods, such as carpets, floor cloths, bedste.ids, bedding, and general house furniture, the largest portion ot uhiih is turned out at our own tactmy, will be marked at the lowest remiineratne prices, and a discount of five per cent, will bo allowed to those who pay at the time of purchase. G. &C. ha.\ing realised the entire \alue of their stock during their late cash sale, the present stock is ni'W and chkapi.y nouciu. An inspection is invited. — Gaklkk wo Ck \N\vbLL, Citj Hall Furnishing Arcade, Queensticet, Auckland.