184 THE APPLE CULTURIST. 



stead. It is not essential that grafts should make just the 

 article required for bean-poles at the end of four years, but it 

 is important that their growth should be a medium between 

 that of a little wood added yearly to the natural branch- 

 es and the extra stimulus of a few more twigs near the 

 body of the tree. With judicious pruning and a moderate 

 growth, more side-branches will be sent out on the grafts, 

 so that in a short time the outer surface of the tree will be 

 covered with a new set of branches, completely shading the 

 unsightly arms. When a person attempts to produce a new 

 top on an old tree, he should know something of the art of 

 pruning and training trees correctly. It is not enough that 

 he possess skill to cut off a limb and set a cion in it, so that 

 it will grow. When one has really decided to graft a tree- 

 top, it is a common practice to graft about one-third of the 

 top one season, another third the next season, and so on, in 

 which case the operator commences at the top, sawing off 

 such limbs as he desires to graft. All the branches that 

 are to be grafted should be removed before one cion is set. 

 It is an excellent practice, also, to saw off each limb twice. 

 The first time it should be severed half a foot or so above 

 the place where the cions are to be inserted. The object 

 of this practice is to prevent injury to the stock below the 

 grafts. The workman should always commence at the top 

 of the tree, and work downward ; then no grafts will be in- 

 jured. (See How to Graft, p. 23.) There are so many 

 modifying conditions and circumstances incident to pro- 

 ducing a new tree-top, that we feel much dissatisfied with 

 the foregoing instructions. This branch of pomology must 

 be learned by practice rather than from books. 



Fig. 73, p. 185, represents an apple-tree which is to be re- 

 grafted by installments. The branches, a, a, a, a, are to be 

 grafted the first year. Those designated by #, 5, should be 

 grafted the second year ; and those at c, c, c, the third year. 



