748 
THE GARDENERS’ MAGAZINE. 
October 4, 191J, 
REGARD TO INDIVIDUALITY 
IN PRUNING. 
“ Pruning apple trees cannot be reduced 
to a formula. No two apple trees are alike. 
Each has individuality with respect to shape 
and habit of growth. Even the man who 
prunes with the greatest skill cannot accu¬ 
rately tell another man how to prune an 
apple tree.’^—Dr. J. C. Whitten, Prof, of 
Hort., Univ. of Missouri. 
The practice of gardening has become so 
widespread during recent years that the 
majority of amateurs may probably be in¬ 
cluded under the term novices—^at least, it 
the instruction offered might go a little 
further to the advantage even of the be¬ 
ginner, and that is, by occasionaUy particu¬ 
larising instead of generalising. It is not 
enough to tell the beginner in fruit-growing 
to pinch or shorten the shoots of his dwarf 
apple trees in July, and further shorten 
them in the winter, for if he follows this 
ad\doe with all his trees, he will treat some 
in quite a wrong way. 
Study of Individual Trees. 
The great universal rule in all pruning 
is to study a tree or shrub, and try to 
understand its nature better before touch- 
SWEET PEA LADY MILLEK. 
Flowers apricot and pink on a cream-coloured ground. (See page 746.) 
the subject are in the earlier stages of 
learning—and the result is that advice and 
instruction pour in upon them from all 
quarters, even the morning papers in most 
cases contributing their weekly quota. 
Most of it appears to be intended, as might 
be expected, for those who have not ad¬ 
vanced very far in their knowledge of the 
craft, and doubtless this makes it accept¬ 
able to the greatest possible number. There 
one respect, however, in which much of 
ing it with the knife. It wdll do it much 
less harm to wait a year or so before being 
pruned than it will do to start ciitting it 
before we know anything about it. Cle¬ 
matises form an interesting study in this 
connection, for while sdme flower only on 
the young growth of the current season, 
others only flower on the growth of the 
previous year, so that it would be obvious 
folly to give one general rule for pruning 
them irrespective of the species to which 
they belong. Chrysanthemums are another 
striking instance. If growers were toldt- 
take the crown buds in the middle 
August, he would be given advice which vs, 
good in most cases, but in the renmiadif 
either impossible to follow, or the vroec 
course to adopt, if it could be carried o«i, 
the writer or speaker ignoring the fact that 
amongst a dozen varieties four or five might 
either not have crown buds to take m the 
middle of August, or, having them, thn 
ought to have been taken a fortnight p-' 
viously. It has even been suggested tk 
lists should be made—catalogues would W 
the ideal place for them—showing the ibr.. 
dates of the second breaks and thetimet for 
taking the crown buds, just as lists of fnit 
trees show the season and quality of lb 
various fruits. The above will serve ai 
illustrations of individuality, manifested!^ 
it is in the habits of growth and flowenr; 
in varieties of the same species, or in 
allied species, and the way the system 
pruning—for taking the crown budi 
chrysanthemums is a form of prunic: - 
should be adapted to their peculiarities 
Varying: Characteristic*. 
These among some fruits are scarcely 1*^ 
than those of the chrysanthemum and tb 
clematis, and to treat all alike will hi'* 
little less harmful results in the one 
than in the other. For instance, cenaa 
varieties of apple, such as Lady Sudek^ 
Worcester Pearmain, The Queen, Ini 
Peach, and Mr. Gladstone form fruit bu;* 
or some of the best of their fruit bud», *’ 
the tips of the young shoots, and some ( 
the finest fruit is produced at these extr» i 
ties. Obviously a universal system ; 
shortening would mean the loss of some • 
the finest part of the crops. Some j* . 
strong-growing varieties, such as 
Seedling, Beautv of Kent, Striped 
and Blenheim Pippin, if grown as dw 
trees, should have their extension gro^' 
shortened as little as possible, j 
naturally grow too strong for this lo 
tree, unless we can get them into 
bearing early ; while, on 
heavy bearers as Stirling Castle 
Piin^. Albert, Seaton House and 
Pendu Plat need to be 
from the beginning in order 
bearing somewhat and 
of growth. In other words, ew ^ 
should be pruned in such a ^ 
may lessen the power of 
help them to take 8®^.. -reQoi^^ 
pears the differences of f t " 
distinct as with apples 
so, as there are several ^ 
of which we are able to ,re 
the leaves are off, and ^ manner^ 
identify from their leaves 
grow'th alone. 
variability . 
All this is, however, 
portant qualification, "“J” -j',^blT ‘^■'1 
the same variety vary co 
themselves according ^ 
which they are worked and tn 
the original bud ot scio 
tree has grown. Here “ jti,. 
uncertain quantity to b* of r 
trees of the came Y®"®Yhit 
different 'conft'*"*:"”® repr«9'^J 
may need to have its g . au.^i 
encourage fruitfulness 
to be fed 
growth. If the beginner ^ 
to think of l®®™“*?.^b?ref«rri>«^ > 
tree,we must of ^ 
basi; principle of J. 
Study each tree as an md'v 
it according to its th* 
of course, an prOB*^ 
principles which underly a 
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