10 Oct., 1916.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 583 



The starting of the braneli system of the tree, on the three-bud or 

 equilateral triangle principle, is advocated. Consequently, a scion or 

 portion of yearling wood and containing three buds like (A) is taken 

 from the variety selected for propagation. A downward cut, at the 

 same angle to the vertical as that in the stock, is made in the scion. 

 Then it also is tongued so that it may fit correctly on the stock when 

 placed in position. Fig. 2 shows the relative ])ositions taken up by 

 the scion and stock. When they are drawn firmly together and bound 

 with a piece of waxed cloth about 9 inches long by 1 inch wide, like 

 Fig. 3, the callus which causes the union between the scion and stock 

 is soon formed. 



The growths, from which the scions are to be taken, should be 

 collected during winter when pruning, and heeled in until required for 

 use. The wood, when so treated, usually gives a much higher per- 

 centage of successful grafts than when taken fresh from the tree. 

 Yearling upright growths of medium strength should be selected. When 

 viewed from the vertical any three consecutive buds on a shoot of this 

 kind usually forms an equilateral triangle, whereas the buds on hori- 

 zontal and pendulous growths mostly lean to one side of the shoot, 

 in consequence of the leaves, at the bases of which they are produced 

 inclining upAvards. 



In propagating trees, whether by grafting or budding, it is important 

 to choose scions from trees that have proved to be of good bearing habit 

 and producing typical fruit of the variety selected. 



It is only in this way that hereditary influence is conserved, and no 

 other reason can be assigned in many eases for the variation in fruit 

 production of different trees except the want of bud selection. 



Single-worked Stocks. 



A single-worked root-grafted stock consists of a portion of root of 

 the JsTorthern Spy or other blight-resistant variety, on to which is 

 grafted direct the one chosen for propagation. In most cases, our 

 cultivated varieties throw out roots from the nodes, and at tlie callus 

 on the scion, when single working is adopted. 



A tree worked in this manner is practically on its own roots, as the 

 starter is invariably subdued. Many such trees, however, are found 

 with their roots infested with woolly blight, when this pest is present 

 in the orchard, and the practice is not to be recommended unless the 

 variety itself is blight-proof. 



The Young Trees. 



Plate 20 is a photograph of three typical yearling trees taken from 

 the nursery row. Figs. 1 and 3 are Jonathan, Fig. 2 is Granny Smith; 

 (a) shows the points at which the stocks were budded, and, liofore the 

 trees wore lifted, (h) represents the ground line. Yearling whij) 

 growtlis invariably make tlio better sha])ed trees. But nurserymen 

 freqnently top the young growths (c) about IS inches from the ground, 

 during December and January, in order to make a head. 



This operation, like summer pruning, has a stunting effect on the 

 trees, and it should nol Im- j)ractised, p;irt ii-ularly if they are making a 



