THE APPLE ORCHARD IN MARCH AND APRIL. 83 



SO it can be banked with earth it should be done. Trees that have 

 been badly girdled will not last long- but usually well repay for 

 the best of attention, and springing in several scions so as to con- 

 nect the barks will do much to increase the tree's usefulness. 



Top-Working. It is quite a nuisance in a commercial or- 

 chard to have a few trees of many varieties, and the progressive 

 owner may have found something better that he desires to give a 

 trial without increasing the total number of trees — so he top-works 

 many of these undesirable varieties. If one desires a few apples 

 of many kinds for exhibition purposes or otherwise, it is far better 

 to keep a few trees in the orchard for top-working purposes — grow- 

 ing many varieties on the same tree. These trees will prove very 

 interesting to both the owner and observer, and where they re- 

 ceive good care fully as good or finer specimens will be produced. 

 Trees of great vigor and hardiness, such as the Virginia crab and 

 Hibernal, are recognized as the best of stocks for such purposes. 

 The union made is very perfect, arid the original crotch is very 

 strong, not liable to break down or sunscald. The best results, I 

 believe, are attained when the stock and scion are about of a size, 

 making a whip graft about a foot from the trunk. Apple grafts 

 unite quite readily if the work is carefully done before the buds 

 burst open. When large limbs or stocks are to be grafted the cleft 

 or wedge graft is most commonly used. A good grafting wax can 

 be made of resin four parts, beeswax one part and tallow one part. 

 If a small oil stove is taken along to heat the wax when necessary, 

 it can be applied very nicely while warm. After painting the graft 

 thoroughly the first time, it should be wrapped with cotton cloth 

 that will tear easily and then thoroughly waxed again. When 

 waxed in this manner they are much surer to grow than if given 

 only one coat of wax, and they are not liable to be broken off or 

 disturbed. 



By the time the March winds are whistling the approach of 

 spring, the plans for any prospective orchard planting should be 

 completed and trees ordered, so as to insure early delivery and 

 good stock. It is not the purpose of this paper to go into detail 

 as to the relative merits of varieties ; however, in the selection and 

 purchase of trees it will always be found more satisfactory to ad- 

 here to recognized standards and such as local experience rec- 

 ommends. 



