190 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



disease germs. For wound coating a thick paint of pure white lead 

 and raw linseed oil is highly recommended. Several pruning com- 

 pounds put out by paint manufacturers are also giving good results. 

 Where wounds are properly coated immediately no injury is apparant 

 from winter pruning and with this objection overcome there is really 

 no good reason why pruning should not be done during the winter 

 months when there is time for it. Summer pruning, however, is some- 

 times adviseable to encourage the formation of fruit buds and bring 

 the tree into bearing, but this is the exception rather than the rule in 

 Nebraska. 



There exists great differences of opinion, both among horticul- 

 turists, regarding pruning methods. Hardly two growers will agree 

 on how certain trees should be trained or pruned and there are quite 

 as great differences of opinion among trained experts. Pruning is one 

 of the least understood crafts practiced in the growing of fruits. There 

 are many erroneous theories and notions practiced each year, some 

 entirely contrary to nature and the good of the trees and other 

 unncessary attempts at securing results easily obtained. One is 

 impressed with the great variety found in the different orchards of 

 our state. Some are low-headed, some are high-headed, some have 

 broad open heads while others have close compact heads, but by far 

 the greatest number have never been pruned and resemble more 

 closely a brush pile than productive trees. 



With so many conflicting opinions of the way to prune trees it is 

 essential that each grower should have an ideal of tree structure and 

 keep that before him in pruning and training his trees. Varieties 

 and individuals differ greatly in form and habit but with even these 

 great differences it is possible to approach the ideal. Yet no two 

 trees can always be pruned exactly the same. . Each tree should be 

 pruned with respect to its own individuality and the pruner should 

 be quick to detect the w^eak and strong marks of each individual. A 

 strong growing tree should have different treatment from one making 

 a weak growth, and one with an upward tendency demands different 

 training from one with a spreading habit. The pruner's duty is to 

 make the best of every individual regardless of its condition or shape. 



Good tools are essential to a good job of pruning. This does not 

 mean that every pruning tool on the market should be at hand but 

 that those used should be well selected and be kept in good shape. 

 The common saw with teeth on both edges is a good one and inexpen- 

 sive. With this tool the average pruner will do the greatest share of 

 the work. He needs, also, a heavy knife and a pair of light shears. 

 The axe should never be used when pruning a tree. A good disin- 

 fectant with which to sterilize the tools is also an essential for thor- 

 ough work. Diseases of different kinds and especially "blister canker," 

 so prevalent and destructive in Nebraska orchards are readily spread 

 same tree on the pruning tools. If the tools are treated with a solution 



