Dwarf Apples. 397 



the assertion; but even granting its entire truth, there still re- 

 mains the consideration of the ultimate yield of fruit, in bushels, 

 per acre. The question is, unfortunately, answered with diffi- 

 culty. There are at present extremely few dwarf apple trees 

 growing in New York, and those which do exist are mostly of 

 different varieties so that comparative yields can not be made 

 with entire satisfaction. Methods of pruning, or of not pruning, 

 as well as differences of soils, location, etc., also enter as modi- 

 fying circumstances. Nevertheless, some data are available for 

 estimating approximate yields. 



The following remarks refer entirely to trees grown on Para- 

 dise stock; they do not include such trees as have taken root 

 above the point of union of cion and stock. Dwarf trees which 

 have been set so that the union is several inches below ground, 

 are apt to form roots at the lower end of the cion, and then more 

 active growth takes place. Such trees are no longer dwarfs, but 

 they must be considered as standards or at least as half-dwarfs. 



The first estimates here given are based largely upon actual 

 observation of dwarf apple trees, and also partly upon theoreti- 

 cal grounds. The printed descriptions for growing dwarfs al- 

 most invariably state that the trees should be set at intervals of 

 about six feet each way for ordinary culture. In Thomas' Ameri- 

 can Fruit CuUurist the distance named is eight feet for round- 

 headed trees upon Paradise stock ; and " for pyramids or dwarf 

 standards on Doucin stock, ten feet."^ Doucin stock is at pres- 

 ent neither grown nor used in this country except to a very lim- 

 ited extent, and I have as yet been unable to find a bearing tree 

 growing upon it. Practically all trees now sold by New York 

 nurserymen are upon Paradise stock, and the trees scattered 

 about the State are also said to be growing upon this variety. 

 The Doucin stock must therefore be omitted from this discussion; 

 only the plants growing upon the so-called Paradise stock can 

 be considered in detail, the value and characters of plants grow- 

 ing upon the Doucin resting upon the statements of correspond- 

 ents (see page 402). 



I am lead to believe that even eight feet is too close for dwarf 



