Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1912 — PROPER FORMATION OF TREE HEADS IN MODERN ORCHARDS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PROPER FORMATION OF TREE HEADS IN MODERN ORCHARDS

How to to Get Best Results Both In Shape and Quality of —Apples and Pears Now Headed Much Lower Than Formerly to Guard Against Any f Loss by Wind Storms.

(By L. C. CORBETT.)

In forming the heads of Orchard trees, they should be much closer to’ the ground than those of ornamemal trees. Commercial of apples and pears are now headed much lower than formerly, three feet being a very common height for starting the head, while tpe of peach and plum treWs are started even as low aa 18 or 20 inches from the ground. The reason is that in certain localities where . windstorms are frequent, a low-headed tree is less likely to be broken, and will lose a smaller proportion of fruit, and does not suffer so much from sun-scald, as the low head serves to a certain extent a snade for the body. .During the early years of both ornamental and fruit trees, they should be pruned vigorously, because they make much longer, natural growth during the first ten years, than latep. With pears and apples, the main body branches left at planting time should not be more than eight inches long. At the close of the first season, when pruning time arrives, the growth of that year should again be short-

fcned to at least one foot, and each of the main bfidy branches should carry not to exceed three subdivisions about eight inches long. Jhe same operation should be repeated. the third year, L'fit the number of branches carried by each subdivision should be reduced to two. The arrangement of these branches should be based upon the same principle as the arrangement of the main body of the trees.

One additional precaution is necessary with trees which have an upright or pyramidal tendency; the terminal bud which is intended to form the leading branch from any primary branch, should be left on the outside rather than toward the center of the tree. By observing this precaution, the plant will have more tendency to spread. On the other hand, if a tree has a tendency to spread and it is desirable for any reason to prune it Into the fohn of a pyramid, leave the terminal bud on the opposite or inside of the branch. With common peach trees, which are shorter-lived than apple or pear

trees, these precautions are not so important particularly in the pruning. At the time of forming the head, however, this is very important because these trees are much more

A. A five-branch tree at the end of the first season’s growth. B. Relation of root to top In a nursery tree lifted for shipment. C. How the roots are cut at digging time.

liable to split down with heavy loads 6f fruit, than the apple and pear. The general rule in the after-prun-ing of the peach tree Is to shorten the yearly growth about one-half. Of course this is not always necessary, particularly during seasons of heavy crop and sparse rainfall, when the natural growth of the plant is very short. *

Whenever the nprmal growth is under eight Inches little additional pruning is necessary, but whenever It exceeds that amount, heading in will be advantageous, . This serves the double purpose of preserving a compact, symmetrical tree, and at the same time reducing the annual crop of fruit. Thus, the fruit which is allowed to remain on the tree receives a larger

amount of nourishment than would be the case were the full annual growth left and the tree permitted to bear its normal quota of fruit. Tli,e fruit will also be larger and of better quality

Top of Tree After Year’s Growth.

Plan of Tree at Planting Time.