VII 



DWARF APPLES 



DWARF apples are the most interesting and valuable 

 of dwarf fruits. We have become so thoroughly ac- 

 customed to the standard apple tree in this country, 

 however, and it so fully meets all the apparent re- 

 quirements, that there seems to be no call for dwarf 

 apples. Nevertheless dwarf trees have some real ad- 

 vantages under certain circumstances. Some of these 

 have already been pointed out in the general discus- 

 sion in previous chapters, and some of them will bear 

 reiteration here. Where so much interest is taken 

 in apple culture as in America, the advantage which 

 dwarf trees offer for the rapid testing of new varieties 

 cannot be overlooked. Still more important is the 

 value of the dwarf trees in producing extra fancy 

 specimens. Thus in growing very fine apples for ex- 

 hibition or for a particularly fastidious market, one 

 would naturally choose the dwarf trees. 



Inasmuch as dwarf trees are recommended chiefly 

 to the amateur and are grown generally less for cash 

 profit than for other considerations, the great and ob- 

 vious advantages of standard trees quickly disappear. 

 For men who like to play at fruit growing, nothing 

 can equal a selection of apple trees on Paradise stocks. 

 They are the most engaging of all dwarf trees, in fact 

 of all fruit trees whatsoever. 



The general matter of selecting stocks has been 



