52 



RENNIE S AGRICULTURE. 



How to Graft. 



Pruning Apple 

 Trees. 



Spraying 

 Fruit Trees. 



is the "King." See III. 24. This is a good shipper, 

 and commands a high price in the British market, 

 but is a scant bearer. Other standard varieties are 

 the "Spy," "Greening," and "Baldwin." The "Ben 

 Davis " is one of the most prolific and also one of the 

 best shipping apples, but the quality is decidedly 

 inferior. As a long keeper it is without a superior. 

 Many "Ben Davis" have been planted, and should 

 the market become overstocked with this variety of 

 fruit, either "King" or "Spies" should be grafted 

 on the trees. 



If there are, say, four main branches to form 

 the top, graft each alternate branch about three 

 inches from the trunk, and horizontal, to form the 

 top properly, and the balance the following year. 

 Do not cut off the whole top in one year. 



The "Spy," when grafted, will bear in four or 

 five years, whereas on its own stock it will not bear 

 for fourteen or fifteen. Other varieties will bear in 

 three or four years after grafting. The "Tolman 

 Sweet" is one of the best varieties to graft on. Any 

 of the following varieties will give satisfaction for 

 export without grafting, viz., "Ontario," "Sutton 

 Beauty," "Baldwin," and "Greening." 



Pruning fruit trees is an important matter. The 

 time to begin is before the tree is planted, when the 

 branches should be cut back and the top formed. 

 Pruning should be done when the leaves are opening 

 in the spring. When this work is attended to an- 

 nually and properly there will rarely be any large 

 limbs to cut off. 



Not the least important work in connection with 

 fruit culture is protecting the trees and fruit against 

 insect pests. With the proper utensils and materials 

 this can be accomplished. First secure a good brass 

 spraying pump mounted on a barrel supplied with 



