FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 43 



watch that tree — when you cut off this branch, be careful in your selec- 

 tion, and plan to see that the lateral buds of limbs grow evenly. A 

 man cannot spend his time any better than watching the growth of his 

 trees, taking out tlie growth that is where it should not be. 



The plum is a tree that will grow almost of itself, so also the pear. 

 It is almost impossible to prune an orchard of pears, especially Glapp's 

 Favorite, until two or three years, but head in. I do not believe in head- 

 ing in trees as most people — a tree that has made a heavy growth, you 

 cut back three-fourths of the way, then you have a heavy cluster of 

 limbs coming out there and growing across the middle. I cut back 

 every year and as the tree grows, later cut back more. At the same 

 time these trees have to be watched with regard to getting too many 

 limbs, especially when you are heading back. 



I am planting orchards twenty-five to thirty feet apart. T would not 

 advocate planting Elbcrta peaches less than thirty feet. Give them a 

 chance to get light, air and plant food. In apple growing it is a little 

 different. Apples do not grow so rapidly. I do not grow apples to a 

 very large extent. I have some Wealthys in an old orchard and cut out 

 the limbs, but it is better to take out a lot of the small limbs first. Some 

 men have ruined their orchards bv sawing off their big limbs — vou should 

 always trim so as to have the center protected. 



The sweet cherry is a tree that will respond more to pruning than any 

 other fruit that Ave have. I have found that systematic and severe prun- 

 ing so that the air and sunlight can get through will give much bet- 

 ter fruit and more of it and this is what brings a reputation to a man. 

 Then there are some varieties that are inclined to shoot right up, all 

 go to top, especially tlie Early Purple Queen, that need to have the whole 

 top taken out, and in some instances we have had to do this twice. Do 

 not take the limb down in the crotch, for it will give you a rotten heart. 

 The body of the tree must be taken care of or it will break down on you. 

 We have had considerable trouble with certain varieties breaking or 

 splitting doAvn on us, and for this reason many make a mistake in lU'un- 

 ing because they do not know the habits of the trees. 



I would like to say a word to the young men who are about to start 

 an orchard. Go miles, if necessary, to see the man who has made a 

 success of his business. I have always been Avilling to give all the knowl- 

 edge I can, and I believe that any successful fruit grower will do the 

 same to an honest inquirer after information that will help him to 

 succeed. And this applies to information of all kinds, pruning, spray- 

 ing, the kind of fruit best suited for a given locality, etc. 



A word more on pruning. Some trees, like the Gold Dro]) i^each, you 

 have to prune pretty severely in order to get good fruit. But you would 

 not prune that tree as you would the Elberta — the bearing surface must 

 be reduced, because this pruning saves thinning. 



I hear of certain varieties that do not bear well. We have in our 

 vicinity a trouble, that they all over-bear, especially the Elberta, in such 

 case pruning is one of the things that Ave .should bear in mind and I 

 prefer to prune in the spring, though the pruning can be done in the 

 fall. NoAv, if there are any questions I Avill be glad to answer them to 

 the best of my ability. 



