334 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



How close to the body of the tree should the separation of the limb 

 take place? I visited an extensive orchard this winter, that had been 

 trimmed in June last, and the bodies scraped; the limbs were cut off in 

 a rough manner, four to six inches from the trunk. I asked the propri- 

 etor the reason for pruning in that manner. He replied, the trees were 

 all injured, and by cutting in that way the bodies would not be so soon 

 injured. I think every limb will indicate by the ring or shoulder where 

 it should be removed ; the amputation should be made close down to this 

 shoulder. 



DISCUSSION ON PRUNING. 



Mr. McWhorter — I concur mainly in the teachings of the paper 

 just read, but can scarcely agree that one may trim at all times of the 

 year. To be sure it is very difficult to prune thirty or forty acres of 

 orchard in a short time, yet it is seldom necessary to prune an entire 

 orchard in any one year, the trees are in such different conditions — some 

 requiring immediate attention, and others not. I would prune where it 

 needs it most — one part in one year, and another in another year. I am 

 satisfied that pruning when the trees are at rest checks them less than if 

 pruned when in full growth. Pruning late in autumn causes the wood to 

 deaden in deeply, and thus cause decay; ,but if done in winter, say in 

 pleasant weather in February, the wounds do not dry in so deeply before 

 growth commences ; and, besides, labor is cheaper then than in autumn. If 

 pruning off large limbs is done when the trees are in growth, it not only 

 checks the growth, but the wood blackens and becomes diseased. On 

 the whole, I prefer February for the general pruning; but for cleaning 

 out sprouts around the collars of trees, and removing water-sprouts, I 

 prefer the last of July or first of August; if done earlier, they will sprout 

 up more than if done about this time. I agree with Mr. Minkler, that 

 branches should be cut off just outside the rings at the bases of the 

 branches. Where trees have been damaged, as orchard trees now are, 

 it is unsafe to prune in the spring; it exposes the dead inside wood to 

 the atmosphere, and it soon begins to rot. But if pruning is or must be 

 done at this time, you should, not neglect to put a good coat or two of 

 paint upon the wound, to exclude air and rain. 



Mr. Minkler exhibited branches which had been severely cut by 

 cicadse, and showed that there had been little or no subsequent wood- 

 growth upon them, and that they were very brittle. It was evident that 

 these twigs were of little value, as they could not sustain fruit, even if it 

 were to set upon them. 



In answer to a question by the President, he said that new%shoots had 

 generally started out upon the branches just below where the damage-had 



