Pase 12 



BETTER FRUIT 



March, 1920 



Setting, Pruning and Cultivating the Prune Tree 



A T>,;<.^ CmmorT/ On fhe RiiViipcl froiTi ExDert Sources 



A Brief Summary On the Subject from Expert Sources 



IN setting prune trees, severe pruning 

 of the roots should be avoided and 

 except whi'ie the roots have been 

 mangled in removal from the nursery 

 or in shipment it is not good practice 

 to do much root trimming. As mangled 

 roots are liable to engender the growth 

 of fungus they should be removed. Great 

 care, however, should be exercised in 

 preserving the tap root from severe 

 cutting. 



In a recent l)ulletin on the subject of 

 pruning young prune trees as well as 

 apples, cherries, pears and European 

 plums. Prof. Warren P. TufTts, of the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station of the 



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University of California at Berkeley, 

 summarizes as follows: 



1. The nnrscrv tree should be cut at 

 planting at a height of 20 to 24 inches 

 above the ground. 



2. The young trees should receive a 

 coat of whitewash soon after planting 

 to prevent sunburn on the trunk. 



.S. During April the orchard should 

 be carcfulfy pruned, the three main 

 scaffold branches being selected and all 

 undesirable growths pinched back. 



4. At the first dormant pruning the 

 trees should be thinned to the three 

 main branches, properly placed, and 



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CONSULTING 

 HORTICULTURIST 



PROFESSOR W. S.THORNBER 



Formerly 



HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HORTICULTURE 



AND LANDSCAPE GARDENING 



Later 



DIRECTOR OF THE EXTENSION SERVICE 



OF THE 



STATE COLLEGE OF WASHINGTON 



WILL ADVISE with fruit-growers upon all horticultural 

 problems, including selection and preparation of orchard 

 lands; propagation and care of nursery stock; planting and care 

 of young orchards and small fruit plantations; the control of 

 codling moth, San Jose scale, blight and other orchard pests; the 

 preparation of lime-sulphur at home and the mixing of other 

 sprays; economical orchard management; the irrigation and 

 fertilization of orchard lands; the use of cover-crops and grass 

 mulches; the pruning of fruit trees, shade trees, shrubs, bushes 

 and vines; the renovation of old or neglected orchards, top- 

 working or replacing of poor or unprofitable trees, and the 

 examining and the working out of practical management plans 

 for large orchards and orchard companies. 



If your orchard has not been a financial success, and you 

 wish to determine its possibilities or you wish to improve your 

 orchard, reduce your losses and increase your returns I will 

 assist you in working out your problem. 



WRITE FOR TERMS 



W. S.THORNBER 



LEWISTON, IDAHO 



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WHEN WRITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRUIT 



these limbs cut back so that they will 

 be from 15 to 30 inches or more long. 



5. During May of the second summer 

 the trees are in the orchard, all unnec- 

 essary growth should be "thinned out." 

 If the trees are making a vigorous 

 growth, a "heading back" of the second- 

 ary scafTold branches, in addition to the 

 thinning process may be given. Under 

 favorable condition.s, this practice will 

 result in the securing of the usual sec- 

 ond and third year's shaping during the 

 second season. 



6. With the exception of all varieties 

 of the sweet cherry and of certain vari- 

 eties of the other fruits of this group, 

 the pruning out given during the second 

 dormant season will consist of a thin- 

 ning out only. "Heading back" one- 

 year branches, under most conditions 

 and in many varieties of apples, pears, 

 European plums and prunes, will have 

 a decided tendency towards forcing all 

 new shoot growth to arise from near 

 the pruning cuts. On the other hand, 

 if these same branches are not cut back, 

 the new shoots, except in certain varie- 

 ties, will be well distributed up and 

 down the previous year's growth. 

 Notable exceptions to this rule are the 

 Spitzenburg apple, Lincoln pear and 

 the Pond plum, which follow the habit 

 of the sweet cherry, in that new shoot 

 growth arises from the tip of one-year 

 wood whether this has or has not been 

 headed. 



7. The same pruning that is outlined 

 for the end of the second growing sea- 

 son should be given during the third 

 dormant season and until the trees 

 come into bearing. Prunes and Euro- 

 pean plums may be expected to come 

 into bearing somewhat sooner than 

 apples and pears. The latter fruits in 

 general, bearing sooner than cherries. 

 The question of variety plays a most 

 important role in determining the age 

 at which a certain fruit may be ex- 

 pected to bear profitably. For ex- 

 ample, the Wagener apple is noted for 

 its precocious fruiting while the North- 

 ern Spy is notoriously slow in reaching 

 productivity. 



8. Trees in this group, as above des- 

 ignated, may be expected to reach a 

 profitable bearing age during the 

 fourth to eighth season and should 

 thereafter be handled as full bearing 

 trees. 



9. All the above discussion presup- 

 poses good solid conditions and careful 

 cultural treatment. 



In writing on successful cultural 

 methods for bearing prune trees Pro- 

 fessor C. I. Lewis says: 



"The man who is getting the best re- 

 sults, practices thorough tillage, tills 

 early, keeps up the fertility of the 

 ground and above all prunes annually. 

 Unless a prune tree receives annual 

 pruning, consistent, regular bearing 

 cannot be expected. Unpruned trees 

 will have many off years. Strong buds, 

 blossoms which set well, and large 

 Continued on page 37. 



