THE PROPAGATION OF THE APPLE TREE. 285 



Having spent two seasons in my early days among the nurseries 

 of Rochester and Brighton, New York ; and as I have seen the thriv- 

 ing apple orchards in the western part of that apple state, I became 

 convinced that piece-root grafting was the best and most proper 

 way to propagate apple trees. Those handsome and producing trees 

 growing there were sufficient proof to me that root-grafting was 

 the best way to propagate. 



The greatest danger in my opinion in planting root-grafted trees 

 is in planting those grafted onto roots that are not hardy. Give me 

 a non-hardy scion on a hardy root rather than the hardiest kind on 

 a non-hardy root — and I wish to say right here, that is where the 

 great mistake is made by our nurserv'men, in using any kind of a 

 root grown regardless of kind. The life, vigor and endurance of any 

 tree is in its roots. Give me any kind of an apple grafted into a 

 hardy root, such as the Siberian, Minnesota and some other varieties 

 of crabs, and I will guarantee you a hardy tree and one that will 

 not winter-kill nor spring-kill, if you will give each tree a winter 

 mulch of strawy horse manure three feet around the tree and a 

 foot deep, from the first of December until the first of May. This 

 done four or five winters after first setting, and your tree and roots 

 are able to take care of themselves thereafter, as the roots will be 

 so thoroughly and deeply imbedded in the ground that the thaw- 

 ing and freezing in March and April will not afifect them so severe- 

 ly — but you should protect the body of that tree from the hot sun 

 during the summer until the bark becomes thick and rough, to keep 

 them from sun-scalding, which is usually done in July and August. 



Many varieties of apple trees if rightly handled will produce 

 apples the fourth year after setting and increase their production 

 annually, when at ten years' growth after setting'trees often produce 

 ten bushels to the tree. 



TRIMMING TREES. 



Never trim or cut a limb ofif or mar an apple tree before the 

 month of September, except at the time of setting, when half or more 

 of the last year's growth should be cut back more or less, according 

 to the root and fibers left on them. 



The cutting of limbs of the tree back at setting does not so much 

 injury to the tree as if done when they are growing and the sap is 

 flowing, for the reason that the wO'Und and wood dries up in a 

 measure before the roots take hold and throw up the sap ; however, 

 it is always best when cutting back or pruning trees to take a small 

 paint pot and brush along with you and cover the wounds with lead 

 and oil. 



