8B 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[March, 
Talk about Pruning. 
As the season of the year is just at hand when 
many who yet adhere to the old, though not 
commendable, practice of Spring pruning, will 
be sharpening their tools for the annual “ trim¬ 
ming,” wo beg leave to mention a few leading 
principles lying at the base of this operation. 
In the outset, it may be safely said that there 
is altogether too much pruning done; or at 
least, that it is performed with too rough and 
careless a hand. It is scarcely more a light 
matter to a tree to have one of its large branch¬ 
es lopped.off, than for a man to have an arm 
amputated. The body of an animal lias no re¬ 
dundancy, no surplus parts which may be re¬ 
moved, and the main structure continue j-.lst as 
vigorous as before. May wc not infer, there¬ 
fore, from analogy, that every part of the vege 
table is needed to preserve its health, and to en¬ 
able it to fulfill the designs of nature ? 
All observing gardeners know that the sever¬ 
al parts of a tree or plant are closely connected, 
and that one portion can not be inj ured without 
at the same time injuring others. Cut off or 
mar a branch, and at once a portion of the root 
feels the blow and suffers from it. Bo, if you cut 
off a root, the injury is felt among the branches. 
or is tills surprising, if, as some say, the branch 
is oiily an extension of the root, every bud 
above ground having a corresponding bud or 
rootlet below. But whether this exact balance 
of parts exists or not, there is, without question, 
a nice sympathy and correspondence of growth 
and health between them. If I prune the top 
of a tree closely for several successive years, I 
do in fact prune the roots also, and vice versa. If 
a tree has an abundance of leaves, it lias, and 
must have, an abundance of roots. 
Hence we see wliy Ave are directed to prune a 
hedge in mid-summer, if Ave Avisli to restrain 
its groAVtli and keep it stationary. Pruned in 
Spring, there is no loss of foliage, but a rapid 
determination of sap into the remaining- buds, 
(to restore the balance between root and branch,) 
and hence a vigorous 'growth. Hence, too, avc 
see Avhy it is better to transplant small trees 
than larger ones. The first can be taken up 
Avitli little mutilation of root and branch, and 
Avlicn again set out, they go on their way almost 
as if tiiey had not been disturbed. The latter 
can not be unearthed Avithout cutting off and 
mangling many of their roots, and so introduc¬ 
ing derangement and disease into the Avhole 
structure. Something can be done, it is true, to- 
Avard restoring the equilibrium of tlie parts, by 
cutting off a large portion of the branches at 
the time of transplanting; but this gives the 
tree another, severe shock; it deprives it of a 
large part of its elaborating organs, and so, be¬ 
tween tlie double abuse, it is a long time before 
it recovers— if it ever does — from tlie severe in¬ 
juries. 
Tlie effect of injudicious pruning maybe seen 
in almost every orchard. IIoav many a large 
limb is liCAvn off, and the stump, not being prop¬ 
erly protected from tlie elements, decays and 
brings disease into the entire tree! Tlie natural 
life of the- apple-tree, Avhen growing in the field 
undisturbed, is about a century of years; yet in 
many of our orchards, it seldom readies beyond 
half that period. So much for civilization! 
Must Ave, therefore, not prune at all ? By no 
means. It is the heroic stylo avc inveigh against, 
and Avould have dispensed A\;ith as soon as pos¬ 
sible. Moderate and timely pruning has much 
lo recommend it. Tlie beauty of a tree and its 
fruitfulness may be promoted by it, and that 
AA r itli little injury to the tree’s health. Plainly, 
however, to accomplish this, the Avork must be 
begun very early, and take the character of 
training rather than of pruning; the excisions 
being done mostly with thumb and finger , or Avith no 
more formidable instrument than a jack-knife. 
Let the saAV he broken, and the hatchet buried. 
In pruning for beauty, all that is needful, is to 
begin Avitli the young tree, nip out any cross- 
branches that appear, pinch off any one-sided, 
iil-shaped shoots, and endeavor to keep the tree 
symmetrical. Within such general limits, let the 
tree develop its oavu peculiarities, and it Avill be 
beautiful according to its kind. Whenever a 
branch larger than one’s little finger must be 
taken off, the Around should bo covered Avith 
grafting Avax or shellac. 
In pruning for fruitfulness, the aim is to im¬ 
pede the perpendicular Hoav of sap, and the ten¬ 
dency to make more wood. This is often effect¬ 
ed by cutting out the central shoot, and by fa¬ 
voring, in various ways, a horizontal groAVtli of 
branches. This checks the wood making force, 
and promotes a deposition of fruit buds. This 
also gives the tree a more globular shaped head, 
and so exposes the fruit to light and air, and im¬ 
proves its appearance and flavor. 
As to the best time of year for pruning, this 
may depend somcAvhat upon the object we AVisli 
to accomplish. If avo want to guide the groAVtli 
of the tree into neAV directions, or to stimulate 
a stunted tree, the last of Winter, or very early 
in Spring may answer, though the best authori¬ 
ties prefer the Fail or late Summer. But, to di¬ 
minish rapid growth, to promote fruit-blaring, 
and for most other purposes, the early Summer 
is the best time. After pruning in Spring, there 
is apt to be a troublesome groAVtli of suckers, 
just beloAV the wound, increasing tlie evil 
Avliicli it Avas designed to remedy. Then, too, 
tlie floAv of crude sap in the Spring is so very 
strong, it is difficult to stop it; it oozes out from 
the wounds, and runs doAvn, corroding the sur¬ 
rounding hark and Avood, often engendering de¬ 
cay. But Avhen pruning is done in tlie month 
of June, tiie Avounds are protected by the 
foliage, the first strong upward Hoav of sap is 
over, and the descending sap is elaborated into 
cambium or new avoocI, Avhicli begins at once to 
heal over the Avounds, and Lo preserve them 
from decay. 
Eight Reasons for Planting an Orchard. 
1. Dr. Dwight used to remark to his pupils at 
Yale, that the raising of fruit Avas tlie cheapest 
and pleasantest way of entertaining one’s friends. 
We are creatures of society, and it is a very im¬ 
portant object to make tlie social board attrac¬ 
tive to all aa’Iio honor us Avitli their friendship. 
A dish of Avell grown apples is ahvays Avliole- 
somc and acceptable. 
2. An orchard is an ornament to the farm, 
beautiful in its spring blossoms, its summer dra¬ 
pery of green, and its autumn burden of yelloAV 
and ruddy fruit. Mo farm is complete Avithout 
its acres of orchard. 
D. Tlie cultivation of fruit is a very pleasant 
occupation, and lias an important influence upon 
the mind and heart of the cultivator. It requires 
higher intelligence than (lie growing of the an¬ 
nual crops. It fosters forecast and hopefulness, 
and tends to a cheerful temper. 
4. It makes home attractive—children arc 
universally fond of fruit, and the home Avhere 
this luxury is alA A;ays enjoyed, Avill be more 
loved on that account. It Avill be in pleasant 
contrast Avith many homes around them. 
o. It Avill tend to guard children against \'ice 
and crime. So strong is the desire for fruit, that 
they may steal it if it be not provided for them 
at home. And the boy that groAvs up plunder¬ 
ing his neighbor’s fruit yard and orchard, is 
very likely to steal more valuable tilings Avhen 
lie becomes a man. 
6. It is a very sure investment. An apple 
tree, if Avell planted, is about as hardy as an’oak, 
and sure to bear fruit according to the labor be- 
'stowed upon it. When houses burn up, and 
banks fail, and railroad stocks depreciate, the 
orchard Avill yield dividends. 
7. It is not only a sure investment for your¬ 
self, but for your children. No real estate in 
their inheritance is likely to be so permanently 
valuable. Au orchard in good soil -will bear 
fruit for a hundred years. 
8. It is a perpetual incitement to thanksgiving 
to tlie bountiful Creator. It yields its burden 
of precious fruit year after year, giving large re¬ 
turns for the labors of the husbandman, and 
calling him to behold the Avisdom and goodness 
of Providence. Do not fail to plant that long- 
deferred orchard, and Avhilc you are about it, se¬ 
lect good marketable fruit. Tlie best is the 
cheapest. 
- - "■-*- -co- - 
Decay of Fruit Trees. 
To the Editor of the A mertcan Agriculturist. 
Many of my apple trees are dead, and others 
are dying. I do not know the cause or remedy. 
Some 8 or 10 years since they were pruned in 
the Winter, and some persons say that is the 
cause of the present decay. I observed that 
they died faster after this pruning than before. 
'J’lie Avounds did not heal over, but the stumps 
from which the limbs were cut, decayed, leaving 
holes in them. I have some trees left, but at this 
rate of decay they Avill soon be gone. My peach 
trees luwe also declined, but that is OAving to 
age, some of them being 20 to 30 years old. I 
think of putting out from 20,000 to 25,000 more, 
next Spring. Pear and clieriy trees also, seem 
to lie declining. Figs, I can manage—kuoAV all 
about this delightful fruit, and have it in abund¬ 
ance ; but any suggestions you can make rela¬ 
tive to the others, will be gratefully received by 
me and my neighbors. Enoch H&ed. 
Accomac Co., Va. 
Remarks.—I njudicious pruning doubtless bad 
much to do with iiie decay alluded lo. Besides 
cutting off tlie brandies at a Avrong season, a 
slump was' left to decay, until a hole avus made 
almost or quite to the heart Avood. Cut all 
limbs closely, so (bat the first new groAVtli shall 
begin to roll over the Avoimd and cover it, in a 
W years. See chapter upon pruning in the 
present number. We Avould also advise our cor¬ 
respondent to examine the trunks of liis trees, 
near the ground, to see if borers are at work. 
’Saw-dust castings at tlie foot of llie tree, discol¬ 
ored and sunken bark, or a hoIIoav sound Avhen 
tapped Avith the knife handle, reveal their pres¬ 
ence. Cut them out, or bore them to death, 
more to destroy a future progeny than to pre¬ 
vent present harm, as they Avill leave of them¬ 
selves next May or Jane, lo return hoAVCA r er, very 
soon, in the form of butterflies to lay numerous 
eggs for another race. NcAVspapcrs tied closely 
around tlie trunks In May, to prevent a deposit 
of eggs, or an occasional application of strong- 
soapsuds or lye, Avill keep the trees nearly free 
from these pests. It may be that your soil is at 
fault. Of that avc can not judge. If covered 
Avith grass dig it up. Try a coat of ashes on the 
ground around the trees, digging it in as deep as 
can be done without inj uring tlie roots.— E d.] 
