180 



THE APPLE CULTURIST. 



An old apple-tree re-grafted. 



Fig. 72. all be cut off close to 



the grafted stock, and 

 then carefully waxed 

 over. In this manner 

 one can put an entire 

 new head on an old tree 

 without removing any 

 of the large branches, 

 and can have the new 

 branches appear in al- 

 most any place that may 

 be desired on the old 

 limbs. The grafts being 

 on small stocks, soon grow over, and adhere strongly, with- 

 out the danger of a rotten or defective stock; and in 

 five years one may reasonably expect a bearing orchard, 

 with as perfect and handsomely formed heads as fancy or 

 skill may desire. Instead of grafting the young shoots 

 thus thrown out in consequence of the pruning, they may 

 be budded, if desired, the same year that the pruning is 

 performed, provided every chance is allowed them for 

 growth, by rubbing off a part of the supernumerary shoots. 

 Large bearing trees may be obtained by a renewal of old 

 ones, in much less time than by transplanting young trees. 

 Yet, after all, one needs to exercise a vast amount of judg- 

 ment as to the propriety of re-grafting old trees, as we 

 have suggested. If they are thrifty and prolific, let them 

 be grafted. On the contrary, if they are indifferent bear- 

 ers, and are on the decline, let them be dug up at once, and 

 a young tree started. 



When one attempts to re-graft, or to renew old apple- 

 trees by removing the old top and producing a new one, 

 it will be found of eminent importance, after the branches 

 have all been trimmed, to watch the development of new 



