ADDITIONAL PAPERS. 



PRUNING, ITS NECESSITY AND VALUE. 



(H. N. Wild, Sarcoxie, Mo.) 



The question of pruning is one upon which much interest is mani- 

 fested with each recurring season, and finds man}' orchardists and fruit 

 growers who would inquire : is pruning, as commonly practiced, a help 

 or a hindrance to the fruitfulness of the trees, and w^iether high or low 

 headed trees are preferable? 



To all such inquiries there can be no fixed rule of answer, as location, 

 altitude, or surroundings, may have a marked influence upon the method 

 of pruning to be practiced. Then, there is a difference in the varieties 

 of trees to be pruned. Therefore, we venture to say, "in a nut shell," 

 pruning is the well balancing of the tree, keeping a fairly open tree by 

 the removal of the feeble and inside branches, that would otherwise tend 

 to injure or interfere with the rest of the branches of the tree, or be a 

 means of brushing off the fruit as it began to form or before maturing the 

 crop. 



Low headed trees are best formed by commencing at the earliest 

 period after setting the trees. It is not necessary to head back each year. 

 Only the most vigorous branches should be cut back, always keeping in 

 view the well rounded or well balanced tree you wish to form. Noth- 

 ing larger than a pair of pruning shears or knife should be used. The 

 cutting side of the shears used should be placed next to the body where 

 the branch is to be removed, so that the bruised parts are removed with 

 the branches that are cut off ; covering the wounded places with a prepara- 

 tion of one part resin and three- parts linseed oil. This forms a good 

 covering, easily applied, and not so conspicuous or unsightly as painting 

 with oil and white lead, as is often done. The pruning should be dis- 

 posed of by burning or used to stop washed places in the ground, where 

 they will serve a good purpose. 



The heaviest pruning should be done on the north side of the tree, 

 first, because our trade winds tend to incline the tree to the northeast • 



