HORTICULTURE 167 



it is -uncertain how much of the influence is due to the top working or 

 to the precocity inherited from the already productive parent. Peach 

 trees propagated from buds from bearing trees develop fruit buds the 

 first year while in the nursery. 



Details of Top Working Young Trees. A single variety selected 

 in accordance with the principles mentioned in the preceding para- 

 graphs is desirable for a stock on which to top work the young or- 

 chard. Every consideration of permanency and uniformity dis- 

 'courages the use of miscellaneous seedling stocks. Every seedling is 

 a distinct variety, and no two are alike in hardiness, vigor, immunity 

 from climatic or other difficulties, or in longevity. In severe climates 

 the stock should be established on vigorous, hardy roots; but in 

 other localities the greatest uniformity may be expected from well- 

 grown self-rooted trees, or from trees propagated on specially selected 

 vigorous seedling roots. Where a check to the growth is not espe- 

 cially sought, the stock should at least equal in vigor the variety 

 worked upon it, or the scion will eventually overgrow the stock. 



In planting, the stock should conform to the usual age for setting 

 the fruit. The tops may be budded with the permanent variety later 

 in the same season if the trees are growing vigorously, or they may be 

 grafted or budded during the second season. It is advisable to top 

 work the orchard as early as possible after it is well established, as 

 the shock to the tree by removing the original top and the loss in 

 energy expended in the growth of the top increases with its age. 



The young orchard may either be grafted or budded, or grafting 

 and budding may be used in combination on the same tree. The 

 trees may be worked on the body or branches, or on both in combina- 

 tion. Grafting is the process of inserting a scion on a stock so that the 

 growing parts of both are in contact. The operation is performed in 

 the spring just as the foliage is pushing forth, though it may be done 

 either a little earlier or later. There are many kinds of grafting, 

 but with young trees in which the branches are not over three-eighths 

 of an inch in diameter, the tongue or whip graft is most common. In 

 making it the scion and stock are cut diagonally, after which a ver- 

 tical cut is made in the cut surface of each. The tongue of the scion 

 and the cleft in the stock are then joined together and the parts 

 are held firmly with a bandage of waxed string or cloth. The cleft 

 graft is used for larger branches. In branch grafting the scions are 

 inserted in three to five branches well distributed over the trunk, in 

 accordance with the grower's ideal for a top. 



The branch-grafted tree develops into a shapely form if the scions 

 live, but the death of one or more of the scions destroys the balance 

 of the top. This may be corrected by inserting a June bud on the 

 same branch or by budding it in the fall, or by regrafting it the 

 following spring. It is a difficult matter, however, to restore the 

 proportions of a top where the scions are of different ages. In some 

 sections the larvae of bud moths play havoc with the scions just as 

 they are starting into growth, and make the establishment of a well- 

 formed orchard a most difficult undertaking. The trouble may be 

 largely overcome by inserting the buds in the body of the tree instead 



