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Page 10
Because the young trees come from the nursery unpruned, do not
leave them in that condition. Before planting, or immediately
after, cut back all the branches at least one-half; and where they
are too thick, cut out some altogether. In removal the tree has
lost much of its root power, and it is absurd to expect it to
provide for just as much top as before.
In many books on fruit-culture much space has been given to dwarf
pears, apples, and cherries, and trees of this character were
planted much more largely some years ago than they are at present.
The pear is dwarfed by grafting it on the quince; the apple can be
limited to a mere garden fruit-tree in size by being grown on a
Doucin stock, or even reduced to the size of a bush if compelled
to draw its life through the roots of the Paradise. These two
named stocks, much employed by European nurserymen, are distinct
species of apples, and reproduce themselves without variation from
the seed. The cherry is dwarfed by being worked on the Mahaleb--a
small, handsome tree, with glossy, deep-green foliage, much
cultivated abroad as an ornament of lawns. Except in the hands of
practiced gardeners, trees thus dwarfed are seldom satisfactory,
for much skill and care are required in their cultivation. Their
chief advantages consist in the fact that they bear early and take
but little space. Therefore they may be considered worthy of
attention by the purchasers of small places. Those who are
disposed to make pets of their trees and to indulge in
horticultural experiments may derive much pleasure from these
dwarfs, for they can be developed into symmetrical pyramids or
graceful, fruitful shrubs within the limits of a garden border.
When the seeds of ordinary apples and pears are sown they produce
seedlings, or free stocks, and upon these are budded or grafted
the fine varieties which compose our orchards. They are known as
standard trees; they come into bearing more slowly, and eventually
attain the normal size familiar to us all. Standard cherries are
worked on seedlings of the Mazzard, which Barry describes as a
"lofty, rapid-growing, pyramidal-headed tree." I should advise the
reader to indulge in the dwarfs very charily, and chiefly as a
source of fairly profitable amusement. It is to the standards that
he will look for shade, beauty, and abundance of fruit.
Since we have been dwelling on the apple, pear, and cherry, there
are certain advantages of continuing the subject in the same
connection, giving the principles of cultivation and care until
the trees reach maturity. During the first summer an occasional
watering may be required in long periods of drought. In many
instances buds will form and start along the stem of the tree, or
near the roots. These should be rubbed off the moment they are
detected.
One of our chief aims is to form an evenly balanced, open,
symmetrical head; and this can often be accomplished better by a
little watchfulness during the season of growth than at any other
time. If, for instance, two branches start so closely together
that one or the other must be removed in the spring pruning, why
let the superfluous one grow at all? It is just so much wasted
effort. By rubbing off the pushing bud or tender shoot the
strength of the tree is thrown into the branches that we wish to
remain. Thus the eye and hand of the master become to the young
tree what instruction, counsel, and admonition are to a growing
boy, with the difference that the tree is easily and certainly
managed when taken in time.
The study of the principles of growth in the young trees can be
made as pleasing as it is profitable, for the readiness with which
they respond to a guiding hand will soon invest them with almost a
human interest. A child will not show neglect more certainly than
they; and if humored and allowed to grow after their own fashion,
they will soon prove how essential are restraint and training. A
fruit tree is not like one in a forest--a simple, unperverted
product of Nature. It is a result of human interference and
development; and we might just as reasonably expect our domestic
animals to take care of themselves as our grafted and budded
trees. Moreover, they do not comply with their raison d'etre by
merely existing, growing, and propagating their kind. A Bartlett
pear-tree, like a Jersey cow, is given place for the sake of its
delicious product. It is also like the cow in requiring judicious
feeding and care.
Trees left to themselves tend to form too much wood, like the
grape-vine. Of course fine fruit is impossible when the head of a
tree is like a thicket. The growth of unchecked branches follows
the terminal bud, thus producing long naked reaches of wood devoid
of fruit spurs. Therefore the need of shortening in, so that side
branches may be developed. When the reader remembers that every
dormant bud in early spring is a possible branch, and that even
the immature buds at the axil of the leaves in early summer can be
forced into immediate growth by pinching back the leading shoot,
he will see how entirely the young tree is under his control.
These simple facts and principles are worth far more to the
intelligent man than any number of arbitrary rules as to pruning.
Reason and observation soon guide his hand in summer or his knife
in March--the season when trees are usually trimmed.
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