APPLE CULTURE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 3

APPLE CULTURE.

PRUNING FOR FRUIT. HOW TO CONTROL LONDON PIPPIN. An interesting article on tho pruning of the popular apple tree, London Pippin, appeared recently in the "Australasian." Tho writer says:— To properly prune a tree it is necessary that the operator should be well acquainted with the functions tho various parts havo to perform towards supplying nutrition for its growth, and the development of fruiting wood. He should also be familiar with the natural tendencies of the tree, whether they bo towards vigorous growth or the reverso; whether of upright habits or of a spreading nature. Upright trees require to be opened out by continually pruning to outside buds; but in a rambling tree, pruning to an inner eye is frequently advisable. ■ Then, too, regard must bo paid to the climate. In cold districts the centre of a tree may bo left with but little covering, but in hot regions under similar treatment tho tree would obviously be subject to injury. The denseness of tho centre of a tree must depend largely .upon prevailing conditions. Bad pruning is undoubtedly, tho causo of great annual loss. Tho object every pruner should have in view is to secure and maintain a regular crop of fruit so far as natural conditions will allow, and so extend tho period of tho tree's usefulness. ' .This can best be attained by carefully studying the. tree,under treatment and _ observing its requirements before commencing to prune. In one respect tho pruner resembles the sculptor; until ha forms his ideal he cannot give it shape. If the-tree be overcrowded a large percentage of tho fruiting wood will fail to mature, and any dense growth should he thinned out, and scmo' of the larger arms removed to admit the light; if insufficiently sheltered some branch should bo sought for which may bo brought up to provide the necessary shade; if the crops ; be too .heavy and the fruit in consequence small the spurs probably require shortening 1 ' or thinning . out; too heavy crops generally result in a scarcity, of fruit the following season, owing to tho trees becoming exhausted and not having tho necessary vigour to set their flowers. These' and other defects as aro apparent must always receive attention if the full benefit of the pruning is to result. The London Pippin is one of tho oldest applos in cultivation; owing to its vigorous and slightly spreading'upright habits, audits comparative freedom from blight, it is one of the_' easiest commercial apples to prune. With proper care during the first three or four years it is possible to obtain a well-shaped tree, furnished with amplo spur growth along the ■ greater, part of the main branches. The difficulty is'rather to and thin out fruiting wood than to cultivate its development, and so prevent the tree from overbearing. Unlike tho treatment of the lateral prowth of the Jonathan, it is advisable to shorten in the light wood instead of leaving it untouched, for if tho results of this method are observed, it will be noticed that the twigs will almost invariably throw-'_ out rfruit spurs from tho dormant buds, immediately behind where the secateur, or pruning-knife, has been used. , ■ : ,