PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 289 



Borted to. Having as many side branches as we desire, we may 

 continue its shape by pinching off the laterals from the side 

 branches when they have grown to about three inches in length, 

 taking care to leave these laterals about one inch long after you 

 have pinched them ; these will again push and grow, and must be 

 treated as before. This method of summer pruning will check 

 its woody growth, and force it to expend its energies in fruit- 

 bearing, and at the same time increase the size and quality of 

 the fruit. For standard or orchard trees, a different treatment 

 must be practiced. For these, but little pruning is necessary, 

 beginning when the trees are young, and annually going over the 

 orchard. Cutting out all suckers and crowded branches, you 

 avoid the necessity of cutting off large limbs in after years — a 

 practice that should always be condemned. I have seen whole 

 orchards nearly destroyed by this injudicious pruning. A limb 

 should never be cut from a tree when more than tAvo inches in 

 diameter. Pruning should never be done except late in the 

 spring or in midsummer. I would never prune a tree in winter. 

 A limb cut off when full of frost will cause the wound to crack 

 and split, thereby admitting the air into its wound, which will 

 soon cause it to decay. It is to be regretted that so little atten- 

 tion is paid to the orchard. It is quite common to see suckers 

 growing around the bodies of trees, until they are nearly hid 

 from view, their branches covered with moss, and putting on 

 altogether a stunted and neglected appearance. You come to 

 the conclusion that the owner of such an orchard does not think 

 that fruit-growing is profitable. The wonder is that such trees 

 bear at all. But they will make an effort, as it is natural for all 

 fruit trees to reproduce ; but the specimens will be miserably 

 small and deficient in flavor. If we desire good fruit, an orchard 

 that will pay, trees that will delight us and our friends, We must 

 do something for them. We must clear away all suckers, scrape 

 off all the old rough bark and moss, that have been the safe 

 abiding places for the destructive insect, and then with a solu- 

 tion of potash and water wash the trunks and limbs of the trees. 

 If the orchard is yet young plow it, and put on a good to]3 dres- 

 sing of manure, and then cultivate a crop of potatoes or corn, or 

 any other crop that will require thorough tillage ; follow this 

 practice for a few years, and you will find it will most effectually 

 renovate your orchard, and you will be made to acknowledge 

 that fruit-growing is profitable, and that your orchard is your 

 [Am. Inst.J S 



