Oklahoma Farmer (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 23, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 4, 1905 Page: 3 of 16
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OKLAHOMA FA KM Kit WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 4, 1905.
I
Jli
t
horticulture..
INQUIRIES ADDRESSED Tt) THE FARMER WILL B8 ANSWERED
IN THIS DEPARTMENT.
A
Trimming Fruit Trees.
James L. Bishop, Cazenovia, N. Y.
I have seen in the Farmer sugges-
tions as to trimming fruit trees, but
no article giving a full description
of things to be,done and things to
be avoided. There are apparently so
few of our farmers that really under-
stand how to trim fruit trees, par-
ticularly apple trees, that 1 have
thought a few suggestions might be
appropriate.
In the first place, as to the proper
time to trim apple trees opinions
vary. ,An old farmer .suggests it is
a bad time to trim apple trees when
your saw is dull. The inference is
that the time of doing *the work is
not a matter of great consequence. Al-
tnough the apple tree and otljer fruit
bearing trees are not considered sap
producing trees, some object to trim-
ming in March because of the loss of
sap. Probably few notice this ob-
jection.
An intelligent writer suggests that
for the ordinary necessary trimming
of superfluous limbs and shoots from
a tree the time is not a matter of
great consequence, but suggests trim-
ming in the fall immediately after
gathering the fruit, to promote
growth of the tree. An excellent time
to trim an apple tree is immediately
after the leaves have formed, as one
can readny distinguish them between
dead and live limbs. Probably la-
ter trimming during the growing sea-
son is not desirable.
It may be well to suggest some
things not to do in trimming fruit
trees. For instance, don't cut too
far from the main limb of the tree
in trimming, so as to leave a stub,
but close, so that the wound can heal
over readily. It may be objected, that
in cutting large limbs you ifre liable
to cause a rot in the tree. The same
result is liable to happen if you leave
a stub.
Again it may be suggested, don't
trim too much. Some think a tree is
not fully trimmed unless the top is all
mangled and much of it removed. In-
telligent fruit growers say that a
fruit tree does not need much trim-
ming. They probably infer that if
you want fruit you must have a top,
and if you want a top you might as
well let it be there. An intelligent
writer very properly suggests that a
tree should be so trimmed that a pas-
serby would not know that it had
been trimmed. Of course this sug-
gestion applies to thrifty, well devel-
oped trees.
Again, it may be suggested, don't
trim too much between times. In that
way much growth is wasted, and some,
times limbs get larger than ought to
be cut from the tree.
Don't let a young tree form top too
low. They should be gradually trim-
med up so that a team can pass under
in ploughing, mowing, etc. Some
trees send branches upward and other
trees spread outward, so that branches
settle. We should trim accordingly.
Some want a low top and of course
leave it grow low. Some object thai
the trunk of the tree should be shad-
ed by the top to prevent sunscald.
A tree however, must be trimmed up
in order to have a properly disposed
top. It is to be remembered that bran-
ches loaded with fruit will settle.
Again, don't cut big limbs if it can
be avoided If necessary, however, it
PECAN TREES AND NUTS.
Gold and Silver Medals awarded our
Nut and Tree exhibits, St. Louis, 1904.
High-grade budded and grafted trees of
all best varieties. 770 acres in pecans.
Write for Catalogue "K", with Which
is incorporated a valuable treatise
upon pecan culture.
The 0. IM. Bacon Pecan Co.
INCORPORATED
DeWItt, - - Georgia.
branch of a limb may be growing
right to fill out a space, whilo the rest
of the limb rn'ay be superfluous. The
superfluous part may be removed,
while the useful part may be saved.
may be well to paint over the wound
made by cutting a big limb with or-
dinary paint.
Another thing to be avoided, if prac-
ticable is the making of great gaps
in the top of the tree. Neither do
we want a tree top formed of limbs
growing here and there branching
ideal tree is one with a round evenly
about with vacancies between. The
developed top. Sometimes, however, it
is quite impracticable to develop such
a top, and we must accept of the best
shape we can get.
Some have an idea that it is a good
plan to cut out the top of a tree. Their
excuse is it lets in the sunlight. Now
an apple tree with an evenly develop-
ed top is a' beautiful object, and to
gouge out the top of it is an out-
rage Besides, to do it removes the
limbs that do receive the most sun-
light. But if we are to have fruit
we must have a top for it to grow on,
and if we have leaves we must shade
whatever device we may adopt. TEe
true plan is to thin out the top where
it is needed so as to admit light and
the free circulation of the air.
Some workmen in trimming an apple
tree commence on a limb and cut off
all the side branches and leave just
the tip end of the limb. That is not
the way to get an evenly devejpped
top, and should be avoided. We must
leave limbs where they are needed,
to fill out a space in a tree top.
Now what is the object of trimming
an apple tree? In general it may be
said that it is to get an evenly devel-
oped, well distributed, fairly open top,
suitable fbr the production of an
abundance of good fruit. If, then, we
are to have an evenly developed top
we must leave limbs to form such a top.
This is the great fact to learn in trim-
ming fruit trees, and the point on
which most trimmers fail. And if
we are to have a well distributed,
fairly open top, we must remove su-
perfluous limbs, cutting out crossing
limbs and small branches where the
top is too thick. Here the trimmer
must exercise his skill and judgment.
Of course the sprouts growing out
on the side of a limb are generally su-
perfluous, and should be removed; but
sometimes a sprout may be useful in
forming a desirable top to a tree. A
small limb growing into other limbs,
and in the way may be considered a
superfluous limb.
Another object to be gained in trim-
ming apple trees is to get the top in
shape so that one can clamber about
in it. This is a practical old fashion-
ed farmer idea, but it is just where
the old fashioned farmer is liable to
fail. Not only do we need to remove
limbs that are in the way of clamber-
ing about in the tree, but we need to
leave limbs to aid us in doing it. We
need the side branches to put our feet
on when in the tree.
Of course the dead limbs must be
removed. These dead limbs are the
desperate evil that haunt the fruit
grower and the trimmer, making the
top haggled and broken. But here it
may be said that it is often wise to
cut off the dead limbs and save the
tree rather than to cut it down. An
old tree may be ready to bear fruit,
while it taues many years for a young
tree to get large enough to bear much
fruit.
There are some devices that may be
adopted to advantage in trimming
fruit trees. Thus it may be undesira-
ble to remove some large lower limb
that is growing too long; but it may
b£ shortened by cutting off the small
ends of it, while some twigs, that
grow upward may be saved, and small
branches that grow downWard may be
removed. An upper small limb may
be removed to give opportunity ifor a
lower limb to send shoots upward.
Care should be taken, however, not to
make too great gaps in a tree, and
sometimes the lower limb will have to
be removed in time, and, of course,
the sooner it is done the better. ,
Sometimes some twig or small
Budding.
In budding it is essential to have a
knife with a keen edge, one with a
very thin blade is best; not to touch
or in any Nvay injure tlje soft new
wood in raising the bark to admit the
bud and to tie as soon as possible,
covering every part of the two incis-
ions but not the point of the bud.
The best time to bud is when the
young tree to be budded—the stock
as it is called—begins to form its ter-
minal buds, and ripen the season's
growth of wood.
The buds are taken for a shoot of
the present season's growth and as
soon as the shoot is cut all the lea-
ves 'should .be cut off, leaving about
a third of an inch of the foot stock or
stem of the leaf to hold the bud. Gen-
erally also about two or three inches
of the immature point of the shoot
should be cut off. This stock of buds
should be prepared first of all and
kept wrapped in a damp cloth until
used. When'ready to cut off the bud
the knife should enter half an inch
below the bud and come out about
three-quarters above it, taking a thin
slice of wood—as thin as possible—
along with it. The bark should be
raised very carefully to relieve the
bud. Pushing it down gently into the
incission, clear to the bottom. If a
portion of it projects above the up-
per incision ti should be cut off. Any
soft material answers for tying. The
material used for tying would be al-
lowed to remain on about three
weeks.
IHLOFF NURSERY
ESTABLISHED 1894
TREES THAT CROW AND PAY FOR THEIR WORK
Grafted Apple 3 '2c, budded peach 4c.
Concord grape vines, No. 1, $2.00 per
100. Forest tree seedlings )i.to per
1,000, black locust 3 to 5 feet $3.00 per
1,000. These are some prices on our
growing stock. Our well illustrated cat-
alogue "Our liest Seller" will be ready
October 1. It will show and tell you
about our 13 years experience in fruit
growing in the southwest. This catalogue
in English or German free. We guaran-
tee safe delivery and pay freight on all
orders of $ 10.00 or more.
Do. Ihlolf, Prop. Okeene, Okla.
Horticultural Notes.
Set the cabbage plants for a late
croi>.
Grapes all Winter.
The French people have an excel-
lent way by which they keep grapes
all winter in their natural state and
color retaining their delicious fra-
grance.
The method, a recent invention,
says the Daily Hotel Reporter, is both
curious and interesting.
Bunches of the finest grapes, when
ripe in autumn, are cut in such a way
that to each bunch a piece of the vine
five or six inches long remains at-
tached. From this piece thgM^em of
the bunch hangs—an arra V ment
which is essential to the
operation.
A large number of wide-neckedTiot-
tles filled with water, are ranged in
horizontal rows on racks in the cel-
lar, and in the open end of each of
these receptacles is placed a bunch of
grapes, that is to say, the pieces of
vine stem is inserted into the mouth
of the bottle, and the grapes hang out-
side. The grapes do not touch the
bottle, but are supplied with moisture
through the vine stem, which is im-
ersed in the water.
In this manner mack Hamburgs and
other choice table grapes are kept
fresh and perfect through an entire
winter. The temperature of the cellar,
being uniform and moderately low, is
favorable to the preservation of the
fruit, and to compensate for evapora-
tion water is supplied daily to the bot-
tles.
This is the month to apply the torch
to tent caterpillars.
Feed the tart windfalls to the pigs,
but not-too many at a time.
The value of small fruits as medi-
cines cannot be overestimated.
Large shipments of Delaware apples
are being sent to Europe by the de-
partment of agriculture.
When you are through with ihe
lawn mower and the scythe, the whet-
stone and the sickle, put them away
carefully against next year.
Pull beans on a hot day and let
them lie in the sun a little while ir.
thin rows, beside where they greiv;
then thresh and clean, during the
same day they were pulled.
Light applications of wood a:\'ies,
never piled at the base but spread
broadcast about the plant and spaded
into the soil, are very beneficial.
Cut out the dead wood from trees
and shrubs and clean away the dead
canes from the raspberry and black-
berry bushes. This waste clogs new-
growth, and harbors fungi, worms
and vermin.
If the ground around young fruit
trees is not kept constantly cultivat-
ed, the trees should be heavily mulch-
ed. Straw or strawy manure is a
good mulch. Newly set trees have nr.
depth of root and they dry out very
Potting the Bulbs.
Four bulbs can be placed in a five-
inch pot, or six in a six-inch pot.. Use
a light, friable potting soil that will
allow the water to pass freely
through it. Set the bulbs so that when
soil is filled in the tips of the bulbs
will be at the surface or slightly cov-
ered. It is aways a good plan in
potting bulbs to have on hand some
sand, and to make a layer of it about
half an inch in thickness to set the
bulbs on. By so doing the young
roots can easily penetrate it; some-
times when this precaution is not ta-
ken, the growing roots pressing
against a firm soil will loosen the
bulbs and push them up out of place.
This, therefore, is a very proper prac-
tice which good gardeners always
adopt whether planting in pots or -in
the open ground.
rapidly •
In setting out new strawberry beds,
remember they should be as level as
will allow prompt moving of the wa-
ter after heavy rainfall, but at the
same time should not be steep enough
to permit the washing of the soil away
from the roots of the plant.
Nursery Stock
Of All Kinds At
WHOLESALE
• Send us a list of your wants for
prices. We will save you
M O fit EY
Agents Wanted Everywhere
Hart Pioneer Nurseries
Tort Scttt. Kant Bex 8.
Man's worst enemy is himself. Hard
fellow to lick, too.
"Good weather for corn" is the
common saying here in Iowa as wo
wipe the sweat from our faces. A good
corn crop has more to do with the
country at large than any other sin-
Fly time is about over. Did you
do your duty to your dairy herd in
keeping them free from the pests.
A dog power is a cheap and efficient
power for running the separator—
provided you can catch the dog every
I ime. Some of them get wise and are
hunting rabbits when needed.
TREE PROTECTORS
7Bo p r 100-93 par 1OOO
Kg* Send for samples und testimonials.
Uo not wait until Rabbits and Mice
ruin your trees.
WRITE US TODAY
hart Pitneer Nurseries
fort Scott, Kana. Box*.
%
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Greer, Frank H. Oklahoma Farmer (Guthrie, Okla.), Vol. 14, No. 23, Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 4, 1905, newspaper, October 4, 1905; Guthrie, Oklahoma. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc88071/m1/3/: accessed March 28, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.