22 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1018. 



Utilizing Obsolete Sorts as Stocks for Profitable Varieties. 



When the folly of ])laiitiiig undesirable or non-reuiunerative varieties 

 in a locality becomes apparent, as a result of experience gained by their 

 subsequent cultivation, no time should be lost in substituting suitable 

 and profitable sorts. The best method of attaining this object is by 

 cutting down the trees, and, if the stocks, including the root systems, 

 are sound and healthy, grafting on varieties proved locally to be suitable 

 to the district and profitable. If the stem be short, the crown and 



Fig. 1. Fig. S 



Plate 145. 



Fig. 1. Rome Beauty scions on Mr. Gladstone stocks. 



with three main arms. 

 Fig. 2. In this case four main arms were employed. 



Commenced 



portions of the leaders radiating from it may be retained and utilized 

 as a foundation for the new superstructure. Formerly the wedge and 

 strap-grafts were used, but during recent times the bark-graft has been 

 most generally employed. This method consists of making a vertical 

 slit, about 2 inches long, downwards from the edge of the sawcut in the 

 bark of the stock with the grafting knife. Then the scion, of yearling 

 wood of the selected variety containing three or four leaf buds, is pre- 

 pared by tapering it off to a point on one side about 2 inches long. 

 The point of the scion, with the cut next the wood of the stock, is 



