552 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



PRUMXn. 



Pruuiyg is an operation of vast importance in the management of trees, and 

 tbe principles upon which it is founded must be clearly understood before com- 

 plete success in fruit culture can be attained. 



Plants left to nature maintain a well-balanced reciprocal action between their 

 branches and roots ; and every branch, bud, or leaf that is removed must ex- 

 ercise an influence either injurious or beneficial, and no one should attempt to 

 remove branches unless they foresee the effects and influence of such removals. 

 The time of pruning, whether during summer or during winter, will depend 

 upon the object to be attained ; a brief consideration of plant-growth will assist 

 us in determining this question. 



When a seed is deposited in a suitable germinating medium, its first eflfort 

 is to send a root downwards in the earth, and then push a shoot upwards in 

 the air. The seed contains within itself all the nutriment necessary for this 

 process ; but as soon as the young plant is so far fonned, its mode of exist- 

 ence is changed, and it becomes dependent upon the soil and atmosphere for 

 future support. 



The elementary substances absorbed by the roots undergo decomposition 

 through the influence of the leaves, and the material is thus prepared for fur- 

 ther root-growth and extension. The roots have no inherent power of exten- 

 sion, but are dependent upon the health and action of the foliage ; and, 

 although in gennination the roots are first formed, their growth is due to the 

 action of the foliage of the plant that produced the seed from which they 

 emitted. 



It is, therefore, apparent that the increase in size of the plant, the quality 

 and quantity of its secretions, and the extension of its roots, are all dependent 

 upon the healthy action of leaves. 



When it is considered how essential the foliage is to the healthy develop- 

 ment of the plant, we may well pause before infringing upon the reciprocal 

 action nature has established between the roots and branches ; for it is evident 

 that every branch or leaf removed has an effect either for good or for evil upon 

 the plant. The correlative action between leaves and roots being so intimately 

 connected, it follows that any diminution of leaf-growth during the period of 

 active vegetation must retard root development. Hence it is an axiom, now 

 becoming recognized, that summer pruning weakens growth, while winter prun- 

 ing produces a contrary effect. 



Summer pruning can be useful where wood-growth is to be checked, and it 

 will be repressed in proportion to the severity of the removal of foliage. Fruit 

 trees, when planted in a generous soil, frequently attain a luxuriance incom- 

 patible with a fruitful habit, and their flowering may be somewhat hastened 

 by judicious summer pruning or pinching, so as to retard wood-growth ; but 

 care must be exercised, and much observation and experience are requisite, be- 

 fore the object can be safely attained. 



Winter pruning invigorates wood-growth. When a portion of the branches 

 of a tree is removed after the fall of the leaves, the balance of growth is de- 

 stroyed and the roots have the preponderance ; the remaining buds Avill now 

 shoot forth with increased vigor — an important consideration with trees or vines 

 that have become weakened from overbearing, or any other cause, imparting 

 new vigor to weak and sickly plants. 



The time for winter pruning may also be regulated by the condition of the 

 plant ; if pruned immediately after the leaves fall or ripen, the shoots will be 

 stronger the succeeding season than they would be if the operation had been 

 delayed until spring. This arises from the fact that during winter the plant 

 Btill continues to absorb food by its roots, which is distributed over the branches ; 



