438 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



scion growing until it formed roots of its own and the resulting 

 tree was practically growing on its own roots. Those trees were a 

 success. I believe Mr. Kerr, of Eastern Shore, Md., uses peach 

 roots upon which he grafts some varieties of plum, planting deep, 

 so the peach roots will die and the plum will be on its ow'u roots. 

 The graft in either case producing practically a rooted cutting, a 

 variety on its own roots. I do believe from our experience that 

 the stock upon which the graft has been set influences the fruit. I 

 would dig big holes for the roots and when the trees are dug out I 

 want them dug with all the roots I can get, no matter if the roou 

 is five feet long. Then I want those roots laid in their natural 

 position, but not a way down. Put them about a good furrow depth 

 so that they will have good soil. One of our trees had nine foot 

 roots and made a growth of over five feet the first season. Now I 

 would like to say, the aim is to get as much growth as possible in 

 as short a time as possible; and I almost forgot to mention that when 

 we are planting the trees we pack the ground around the tree and 

 then tramp the soil firmly so. that it will hold the root, so that after 

 the tree is planted if the roots are sufficiently large one man cannot 

 begin to pull the tree out. Then we ought to get a growth the first 

 year of about three feet and in that way can gain a few years time. 

 However, from some cause or other, trees get into our orchard that 

 we don't want. No matter how careful you or your nurseryman 

 may be, mistakes will occur, and as soon as you find you have a tree 

 you don't want, top work it either by budding or grafting. Take all 

 the small branches and make a thorough job of it if possible in one 

 year. Select varieties known to succeed in your latitude and soil. 

 Plant a number of varieties as pollenizers and get a crop of apples 

 sometime when the other orchards do not have much fruit. By 

 planting a few varieties new to your neighborhood you may find 

 something profitable for yourself or posterity. There is an apple 

 over there that we call Fink. It is quite a good apple and an annual 

 bearer. I think it originated in York county. Do not plant trees 

 that have been grafted on whole roots. I wouldn't plant such trees 

 if I could get them for nothing, because of the quality of fruit I 

 would expect to get. Each tree would have a different root and be 

 influenced by it. 



We aim to get the heads of the trees low down. "We aim to get 

 lower than any of the gentlemen here. Sometimes the nurserymen 

 have trimmed the trees up and have to leave the branches as 

 they come out, and cannot cut them back as we would like. Our 

 object in cutting back and heading very low is to make spraying 

 easier, make it more convenient to pick the fruit and to thin it, and, 

 more than all, to hold the trees in case of storm. A tree that is 

 heavily laden with fruit will stand firm like a post when there is a 

 storm as the wind cannot get up under the tree. If the wind can- 

 not get up under the tree there is very little drop. One of our 

 neighbors had his trees headed higher than ours and the ground 

 was covered with apples after a storm. He came over and said, ''I 

 want to see how your trees are and there they stand like posts. 

 They don't sway even." This is the greatest' advantage of low 

 heads. In regard to pruning. We don't prune as heavy as some. I 



