THE ORCHARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21520, 17 June 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE ORCHARD

PRUNING OPERATIONS In addition to pruning bush fruits, peaches and kindred trees, the next in order to require attention will be plums of both the European and Japanese varieties. It is, however, essential that tho wood should be well ripened and matured before pruning. Annual pruning of all fruit trees is a necessary operation in successful fruit culture. With many trees such as peaches, nectarines, European plums, apples and pears, the best results, so far as effecting an increase in the fruiting capacity is concerned, are obtained from summer pruning or pinching back the young growths during the growing season. At tho same time, it does not mean that winter pruning must be dispensed with, as each has its particular function to perform and benefits to bestow. i PURPOSES OF PRUNING An increase in production is not the only aim of pruning. The shaping of the trees, tho judicious thinning of fruiting wood, the removal of useless weakly growths, and the removal of all dead wood, are included in the objects aimed at. In pruning much depends upon tho treatment the trees have received during the first two or three years of their growth, as it is at this time that the foundation of the tree is laid, and when, by judicious pruning, the character of the tree is formed. NO HARD AND PAST RULE No hard and fast rulo can be applied to pruning, and for any operator to adopt any one method for all classes of trees would probably mean failure, as very few trees require the same treatment. .Requirements of trees naturally vary according to the variety, age, and condition of culture. Trees, too, vary considerably in cropping capabilities. so that while some trees may he well furnished with fruiting buds, others,may only carry only sterile branches. .To prune to tho best advantage the operator must not only be a keen observer, but must know what is required to produce the best results. Tho peach and kindred trees, for instance, naed different treatment in pruning to pip fruits, for the fruits of the peach and nectarine aro produced upon the wood of tho previous season's growth, so that a good supply of this wood each season is essential to fruitfulness. VARIETIES OF PLUMS In dealing with plums the Japanese will be, the first to need attention. It will be generally noticed that several of these varieties, like the peach, form fruiting buds freely upon the wood of the previous year, as well as upon spurs formed by cutting back last season's shoots. This must be taken into account when pruning. Several of these varieties form treble buds, producing flowers to the tips of the branches, so that in pruning back the leading shoots much of the fruit wood is removed. This, however, is an advantage rather than otherwise, for many of these varieties set more fruit than the tree can possibly mature. Hut little growth is made compared with trees carrying smaller crops. They are really more in need of some good stimulating manure than much pruning. With European plums the fruit is invariably produced upon spurs that form upon the older branches, so that all pruning should be done with the view of encouraging as many of these to form as possible. Mention has already been made of the advantages of summer pruning or pinching back the growths during the growing season. Few fruit trees are moro benefited by this treatment than European plums, as it is tho chief influence in furnishing the trees with fruiting wood or spurs. These, like most other fruit-bearing trees, vary in habit or growth and fruitfulness, some varieties coining into fruit more quickly than others. PRUNING IN WINTER Winter pruning consists in cutting back to within about an inch of their base, all superfluous inside growths, but leaving any short, sturdy growths that show any tendency of producing any fruiting buds. In stopping any of tho leading shoots, shorten back only the strongest that arc growing out of proportion and forming irregular heads. The pruning of pip fruits is better deferred until a little later or until most of the leaves have fallen. With these, as with European plums, the main object of pruning should be to induce fruiting spurs to form throughout the whole body of the tree. The best results, however, can be obtained only when the trees are taken in hand in their younger stages of growth, and then only by a careful system of sum"mer, as well as winter, pruning. APPLES AND OTHER PIP FRUITS Apples, pears, and similar pip fruits invariably form their fruiting buds mid spurs upon the older branches, though some varieties have a tendency to lorin flowers upon the tip of the branches. These, however, are comparatively few, and will, with reasonable caro in pruning, lie made to form spurs the Same as others. Such varieties should on no account be allowed to grow unchecked, simply to obtain a few fruits on the extremities of the branches, while the whole body of the tree is simply bare stems. Lvi pruning the operator should be able to discern the difference between the fruiting and wood producing buds, although it may be necessary in some instances to remove shoots on which fruiting buds are formed. Cut back to within about an inch of their base all weak sterile shoots that form upon the inside branches. In shortening or removing the other shoots tho shape of the trees must be considered, the object being to produce a well-balanced head, without undue crowding of the branches. In cutting back tho shoots always cut to a bud pointing in the direction the next branch is required to grow.