15 JvTov.. 1919.] 



Pi'ur (Irixrhig in Victoria. 



66: 



Plate 31.— Branched pear-tree as 

 usually sent from the nursery. 



In some cases, it is bettei* to make 

 the base-graft slightly above the sur- 

 face of soil in order toi insure a clean 

 union, for, owing to the irritant action 

 of some soils on the callus, a very rough 

 union is made, as seen in Plate No. 30, 

 Fig. 1, A. Fig. 2, A, shows a base- 

 graft with a clean union. 



The Branched Tree. 



The branched tree may be produced 

 either by top-grafting, base-grafting, 

 or budding. When the method of top- 

 grafting is employed, a scion compris- 

 ing three or four buds is grafted at 

 the height of the stem desired for the 

 tree to branch. These buds will, under 

 proper coiiditions, break away into 

 active growth, and produce a primary 

 framework for the tree. 



If it be desired to produce a branched 

 tree fro^m a single-stemmed tree created 

 by buddinp; or base-grafting, it is 

 necessary to pinch off, about Decem- 

 ber, the top Oif the young rod growing 

 in the nursery rows. The result of 

 this interference with the growth of 

 the young rod is that the terminal 

 buds are stimulated into active growth, 

 and thus form a branched tree. Such 

 a tree is illustrated in Plate No. 31. 

 It will be seen by reference to this 

 olate that the young tree was pinched 

 back at a point marked A. As a re- 

 sult, the sap was concentrated in the 

 six terminal buds, all of which shot 

 out into active growth, as shown in the 

 plate. At planting time, two or three 

 of these slioots may be removed at their 

 base, and a well-balanced head will 

 result. 



Budding. 



Budding Is, perhaps, the more satis- 

 factory way of working the pear, and 

 if the seedlings are too small for tak- 

 ing the bud th« first season after seed 

 is sown, it is better to allow them to 

 remain in the nursery for another year, 

 by which time they will have become 

 good specimens for budding. Budding 

 also makes a nice clean stem, and does 

 not produce any unsightly callus, as in 

 the case of some base-grafts. 



