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Powsr Fru*i mm M»tkM to eae-half Ubm ia Ub*r> _
to ton. And after then branches are formed, the leader is usually pruned to an outward growing .lateral.
Subsequent pruning until time of fruit production should consist of removing crossing branches, inward growing branches or branches developing on the scaffold limbs too close to the main trunk. Mechanising Oar Tree Pruning
In my opinion, power pruning - is here to stay, getting an added boost, (with the labor shortage that is sure to come this next year. We have used a power pruning unit in our demonstration work here in Virginia during the past three years. With our personal observations and working with the growers, it is well to see now labor savings ranging from 25 to 50 percent of man-hours re-' quired for the pruning operation are entirely possible. It is estimated that between forty and forty-five power pruning units are now in use in Virginia.
Mr. D. L. White of South Carolina reports, “We experienced a great savings in the cost of pruning. For example, in large Elberta trees, the average per man per day was forty trees as against twenty trees with hand'tools.”
The advantage in using power pruners are many, but one that stands out in my mind is that of being able to grow a cleaner crop of fruit by starting fjrom this thorough pruning job. Comparing hand pruning with this power tool over the same length of time, you are able to make more and. smaller cuts, maintaining maximum bearing surface in addition to producing fruit of good size and color. The men also do not tire so readily and as a result do better work.
We have found it usually takes the workmen several days to learn to handle the power shears. Men who are. mechanically inclined are found to be more adept at handling the tools. When working in a large tree, it is well to pull up eight or ten feet of hose and drape it over a nearby limb, thus relieving you of the entire weight of the hose. - -j Some operators using long shears tend to leave too many, stubs. However this can be- over, come to a great degree by placing your hand out on the barrel, "thus bracing the. longer shear* when the cuts are made. With the ease in cutting of these tools it is evident that one should not become “‘rigger happy,” for the‘tree could easily be pruned too heavy. A word of caution might also be added, as the power shears will take off a thumb or cut the hose just as readily as a limb.
In regard to the cost involved !n operating the power pruner, it i. has been found that oh a tractor v mounted unit that about four gallons of fuel per day will be used. In addition, there would be some wear and tear on the tractor. The maintenance of the power pruning equipment aeems to be low as re" ported by a number of growers. \ Oft many farms the compressor *y works the year round in blowing up tires, powering grease funs, supplying air for spray painting (and for farm shop use..
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