Fruit Growing 15 



Pruning Times. 



What is the best time to prune the French prune and most other 

 trees? In Santa Clara valley they prune as soon as leaves are off; in 

 the mountains they prune later, say in February and March, and finish 

 after bloom is started and of course when sap is up. IVhich is right? 



You can prune French prunes and other deciduous trees at any- 

 time during the winter that is most convenient to you. It does 

 not make any particular difference to the tree, nor does it injure the 

 tree at all if you should continue pruning after the bloom has started. 

 In fact, it is better to make large cuts late in the winter, because they 

 heal over more readily at the beginning of the growing period than 

 at the beginning of the resting season. It is believed that early prun- 

 ing may cause the tree or vine to start growth somewhat sooner and 

 this may be undesirable in very frosty places. 



Grafting Wax. 



Hozv shall I make grafting wax for grafting fruit trees? 



There are many "favorite prescriptions" for grafting wax. One 

 which is now being largely used in fruit tree grafting is as follows: 

 Resin, 5 lbs.; beeswax, 1 lb.; linseed oil, 1 pint; flour, 1 pint. The 

 flour is added slowly and stirred in after the other ingredients have 

 been boiled together and the liquid becomes somewhat cooler. Some 

 substitute lampblack for flour. This wax is warmed and applied as 

 a liquid. 



Plowing in Young Orchard. 



How near can I plozv to tzuo-year-old orajige trees safely? 



You can plow young orange orchards as close to the trees as you 

 can approach without injuring the bark, regulating depth so as not to 

 destroy main roots. Destruction of root fibers which have approached 

 too near the surface is not material. It is very desirable that the soil 

 around and near the tree be as carefully worked as possible without 

 injury to the bark of the tree. How far that can be done by horse 

 work and how much must be done by hand must be decided by the 

 individual judgment of the grower. 



Crops Between Fruit Trees. 



What would be best to grow between fruit trees, while the trees are 

 growing, and what to alternate each season, so as not to use up the soil 

 without putting back into it? 



Where one is bringing along a young orchard, without irrigation, 

 it is doubtful whether it is not better policy to give the trees all the 

 advantage of clean cultivation and ample moisture than to undertake 

 intercropping. If you live on the place and wish to grow vegetables 

 between the rows, the thorough cultivation to bring the vegetables 

 along satisfactorily would help to preserve moisture enough both for 

 the vegetables and for the trees, but this is very different from 



