OPEN-HEAD PRUNING. 251 



without. If these may be transmitted through the bud or scion to other 

 trees the practice of propagating from trees of known excellence is a most 

 reasonable one and ought to be encouraged in all possible ways; on the 

 other hand if we can not hope to so transmit them the practice is a waste 

 of time and effort, and can result in nothing but disappointment and dis- 

 couragement to the grower who plants them. 



There are a number of cases on record where a portion of a tree 

 had borne apples strikingly different from the rest of the tree and 

 these variations have been successfully reproduced by bud. If superior- 

 ity appearing in a portion of a tree may be reproduced it may seem most 

 reasonable to suppose that the same result is to be expected if the whole 

 tree is superior. But the differences here referred to are striking ones 

 generally spoken of as "bud sports" and are believed to be of rare occur- 

 rence though we do not know just how unusual they may be. Beyond 

 doubt the general opinion is that they are most uncommon and are of a 

 different nature from the ordinary variations that give us the usual 

 especially desirable tree, and which are the ones commonly sought for 

 by the grower of "pedigreed" trees. 



WHERE IS THE PROOF? 



There seems to be a general feeling, however, among a great many 

 people that these individual variations, not "bud sports," may in some 

 degree, at least, be reproduced by buds. I do not know of any reliable 

 proof that this is the case. The presumption seems to be that any at- 

 tempt to transmit the excellence of an individual tree is likely to be of 

 no avail and to yield only disappointment to the grower who propagates 

 such trees. This is by no means a proven fact, for while certain attempts 

 to repi'oduce such variations have apparently resulted in failure it re- 

 quires a great many such negative results to demonstrate in a satisfactory 

 manner that the case is hopeless. 



Others claim to have been successful in such efforts, but so far as 

 . these cases have come to the notice of the writer they seem to be sus- 

 ceptible to a different explanation. It would be interesting to know more 

 of the efforts of those who have tried to transmit individual excellence 

 by bud. It is probable that many experiments have been made that have 

 not come to any public notice. What have been their methods of selec- 

 tion and propagation, what success or failure has attended these efforts? 



Massachusetts. J. K. SHAW. 



OPEN-HEAD PRUNING. x 



For some time the writer has been desirous of giving his ideas and 

 experience on pruning, but has refrained from doing so for lack of au- 

 thoritative approval. of his methods. This obstacle has been removed, 

 however, by two papers from very able experts of other states before our 

 State Horticultural Society at Harrisonburg this winter, who approved 

 practically in detail the method herein set forth. 



