THE FRUIT SECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19372, 6 July 1926, Page 16

THE FRUIT SECTION.

PRUNING THE APPLE. BY S.T.R, As is the case with all fruit trees the apple needs to be sturdily built and open in the centre. The wood of the apple is pliant and will usually bend considerably before breaking. The trouble is that the branches do not always assume their fnrmer erect position after being bent for a considerable period, as when weighted down by a heavy crop. The natural tendency of the apple is to make a rank growth for the first few years. To allow this natural inclination to go on unchecked would mean a considerable waste of time, for the tree would produce such a weak, unstable framework that it would be badly damaged by wind or a heavy crop, thereby necessitating the replacement of a tree that had become useless It would take some years to bring its successor to a fruit-bearing condition This early vigour should be diverted into channels where it will bo utilised advantageously, viz., to strengthen the trunk and the main arms. This is done by hard pruning. The trunk should be from one foot to two feet high, according to the size to which the tree is likely to grow. The first main arms should be cut back to nine inches or less from their origin. At the second pruning they should be cut back a similar length, but may be left slightly longer if the leaders be especially strong. In applying this one must he careful not to sacrifice the durability of the limbs in order to build the tree in a shorter time. The Third Pruning. At the third pruning the length of leader retained should be about 15in. to 24in. If the leaders be weak, less than this shouud be retained, or if the tree be converging toward the centre, it is better to prune well back to a bud facing out- ■ wards, as the nearer the base any inward tendency is corrected the better. At each successive pruning the leaders are pruned according to their strength until the framework is built, which, in an average tree, should be in five or six years, or when the tree has attained a height of about six feet. When the tree is fully grown the leader is pruned with an intensity which varies with the vigour of the tree.' If the tree be deficient in vigour the wood shoots or leaders are pruned hard, but otherwise they are left practically unpruned except to keep their direction and individuality. Also-the "leaders are left unpruned to encourage the spur-forming habit, The Leaf Twig.

The leaf twig is another of the five an- [ nual growths which are produced by the apple. This twig is found on all parts of the trees. Where there is room for them they should be left and pruned when they have formed spurs, but not until. They are then pruned back to the middle of one of the groups of rings which indicate the end of each season's growth. They may also be pruned back to a spur at a distance from the base which is deemed suitable.' As'with the'leaf twig of the plum, this shortening back should be done gradually, or else the twig will make vigorous growth and upset the production of fruit. V: The Leal Spur. The leaf .spur .is a growth which is not pruned, because it needs none to control its condition. It will develop into a fruit spur the following season and' therefore should be left untouched. When such growths develop into fruit spurs, they need no attention until they have become almost worn out by subdivision and other causes, or until they become overcrowded. When pruning is necessary for the former reason the spurs are cut back as similar growths on the plum are treated, i.e., back to the base, or the subdivision. When pruning for the second reason one must bo careful to remove a fair proportion of fruiting spurs, instead of mainly the ones still in the leaf spur stage, as these provide strong, healthy fruit spurs in the future to replace any that needed to be pruned out. Also, the leaf spurs shpukl be distributed uniformly among the fruit spurs. Fruiting Growth. Another fruiting growth produced annually is the fruit lateral. This is exactly similar to the leaf twig, except that it has a flower bud at its tip, where the leaf twig has a leaf bud. It. is often difficult to tell the difference! between these two growths, but. the' fruit lateral is distinguished by the plumper flower bud, which it has as a terminal. This lateral develops spurs in the same way as the leaf twig, and its treatment is exactly similar » * Renovation cf Old Trees.

This is a comparatively easy operation with the apple. !Iherc arc various methods of renovation, varying according to the desired aim. When one desires ; merely to remove branches which are deteriorating or to decrease the height of the tree, care should be taken to cut back to the base of that or another branch. If cut back to leave a bare stump it is very seldomthat good leaders are produced. If one wishes to bring an unproductive tree back to a fruitful condition, the leaders should be thinned out and spaced while this is being done. To augment this return to a productive state side branches should also be reduced in size and number, so that those retained will receive a maximum of air and sunlight. Obtaining Fruit.

Another method of effecting a return to is to prune the horizontal branches of healthy trees which are on the inside of a tree, and also to cut out any central branches that have assumed a vertical position. The result of this will be a number of vigorous leaders which, if pruned with good judgment, should produce a good quantity of fruiting spurs The leaders, which assume an upright position, should be removed during the first summer, and the remainder pruned next winter to assume a more horizontal position. Changing Variety. Another reason for renovation is to change the variety. This is done Ingrafting. If the conditions be not suitable to complete this in one operation the top central branches should be cut out and the new variety grafted on to the stumps. If this does not produce leaders the remainder of the branches, when cut down the following year, should also be grafted on Where the conditions are favourable, however, the grafting should be completed in one year. When the branches are cut back the wounds should be covered with a wrapping of straw until the grafts produce foliage enough to provide the necessary shelter. The rapid healing of the wounds is very important, as the success of the renovation process depends on it, ,and to help the healing, a coating of Stockholm tar would be very beneficial.