114 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



1871 



ly all their germs of life, the very vital principle 

 cut out of tbena. 



So uuiversally disastrous has heen this shorten- 

 ing-in system of pruning, (yet overlooked in prac- 

 tice,) we cannot see how any accurate and experi- 

 enced observer could contend one moment for its ne- 

 cessity, except upon the principle of strong preju- 

 dice or previous erroneous education, for it has nei- 

 ther fact nor sound theory in support of it. 



It is nevertheless lamentably true that we have 

 some able writers and authors who not only advo- 

 cate and support the system but teach and enforce 

 it as an absolute necessity to success. 



We have arrived at a period in which we require 

 no such authority. Flowery language and beautiful 

 spun theories will not answer this progressive age. 



We want facts, figures, and dates, when, how, and 

 where they took place, then we have no objection 

 to your theories as suitable accompaniments to 

 to them. We have had sufficient fiction, what we 

 want now is reality, and nothing short will suffice. 

 The public have suffered enough by this popular 

 fallacy, and we have also been persecuted and ridi- 

 culed sufficiently the last ten years in demonstra- 

 ting its absurdit3% but we live in hope, and it is 

 some consolation to know that some of our most 

 experienced and intelligent opponents liave alread}' 

 been converted, and sustain us. It appears lo be a 

 hard struggle to give it up, but inch by inch it will 

 have to yield, and then you will look back with 

 wonder and amazement at sustaining such an ab- 

 surdity. 



A few j'ears ago we could hardl}' be treated civi- 

 ly when we mentioned the subject, but now we find 

 very few who sneer and wink when we discuss it, 

 and these we cannot expect to change as long as 

 Mr. Snooks docs their thinking, but what a great 

 pity it is that these poor mortals have not some 

 more efficient weapon to defend their cause. 



For a number of years we have been attempting 

 to re-graft some undesirable bearing trees with bet- 

 ter sorts ; for that purpose we cut off a few of the 

 main center limbs and grafted them in the tops. 



The result has been that more than two thirds of 

 the limbs have become diseased or died back to the 

 body of the trees. This has become so common 

 with us and others that we have no hope of ever 

 succeeding in re-grafting bearing trees. 



If the grafts grew quickly and rapidlj^ and es- 

 caped the blight of May and June, it was not so 

 likely to occur, but otherwise it almost universally 

 took place. This shows conclusively (hat there 

 must be kept up a strong vital action in those parts 

 or they will become diseased, wliether it is done for 

 the object of re-grafting, or thinning them out for 

 light and air. 



We have seen instances where a small center 

 limb, not over half an Inch thick shortened-in, dis- 



eased the whole limb, and part of the body of the 

 tree which has not yet recovered, although cut off 

 seven years ago. 



We have seen whole rows of trees killed by what 

 has been called judicious pruning, and whole or- 

 chards near!}' ruined by the same practice, j'et they 

 were pruned scientifically according to the popular 

 theory. It is very true pruning does not always 

 produce such an effect, but it tends towards it, and 

 if the coiklitions are unfavorable it may produce 

 sad havoc. 



AVhen trees are pruned out to give them form, 

 light, or air, when it does not apparently injure 

 them, it has a tendency to produce numerous shoots 

 and suckers, which increase in proportion to the 

 amount cut away, which requires additional thin- 

 ning out, and it must be kept up as long as the 

 practice is continued. 



This increase of rapid growing shoots and suck- 

 ers has a tendency to increase the liability to 

 blight, for they are the first to become diseased, 

 which finally affects the whole tree. The same as 

 an over stimulated stomach is more liable to apo- 



P"'-^^'- ^. 



The Apple.— Its Propagation. No. 4. 



By the Associate Editor. 



When trees are set close, one protects the other, 

 like in a grove or forest. You have also less 

 ground to go over in cultivation and keep clean 

 conseqaently more time to do the work well and in 

 proper season. And finally, where trees have been 

 so planted, they have given better satisfaction in 

 health, hardiness, symmetry and productiveness. 

 When trees are grouped in the order herein given, 

 we transplant systematically; consequently, wo 

 know each progressive step the final result of every 

 operation. The exact positicui of the permanent 

 trees being known, you can select for that purpose 

 the best known vigorous varieties, sound and 

 healthy, and take extra care of them, and have an 

 orchard without a missing tree, or a defect. There 

 are many kinds that bear very young, and are de- 

 sirable for that purpose only. They are defective 

 in their constitution, or of indifferent quality, and 

 ought not to be placed in a )iermancnt orchard, as 

 they would be of little value when better varieties 

 come into bearing. They can be planted in those 

 temporary places between the permanent trees. 

 Again, other varieties are doubtful ; we do not 

 know how they would succeed. They also can 

 occupy the same position without producing any 

 defect in the orchard. Those temporary trees you 

 can prune, graft and experiment with to your satis- 

 faction without producing an injurj' to your 

 orchard. And finally, the extra early bearing trees 

 you plant will come into bearing soon and pay tlie 

 whole expense, leaving you the permanent trees a 

 clear profit long before they come into bearing; so 

 you have made a clear gain of an orchard by plant- 

 ing thick of early bearing sorts. As those tempo- 



