APPLE. 181 



Various other forms of graftage may be successfully used 

 In growing the apple as it is easily worked in this way. 

 Stocks for the Apple: 



(a) Seedlings of vigorous, hardy sorts are commonly used 

 as stocks for the apple in the best apple districts and little at- 

 tention is paid to the source of the seed. 



In the Central and Northwestern states, where the winters 

 are severe and the snowfall often scanty, the apple is liable to 

 winter injury and much care is taken in getting hardy stocks. 

 For this purpose seedlings of the hardiest varieties are sought. 



(b) Seedlings of hardy hybrid crabs are now much favored 

 for severe locations and are giving good results, but are not suffi- 

 ciently tested so that their value can be definitely stated. It 

 seems from present experience that their use should be extended. 



(c) Seedlings of the pure Pyrus "baccata are of great hardi- 

 ness and are now being widely experimented with in severe loca- 

 tions, especially in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Some varieties 

 do well on it when budded or grafted at the crown while other 

 kinds unite poorly with it and there is at least something of a 

 question as to its future usefulness as a stock. 



(d) Dwarf apples are formed by working them on the Para- 

 dise stock, which is a dwarf apple stock much used in Europe 

 for this purpose but seldom used in America. It makes small 

 trees that are adapted to training in various forms. 



(e) Top-working or grafting the tops of trees is practiced in 

 some sections to change the bearing of trees and to overcome 

 weaknesses in the trunk of certain kinds, such as the Wealthy, 

 which is liable to canker in the crotches in Minnesota and the 

 Dakotas. Some varieties are much more productive when top- 

 worked than when merely root-grafted. 



Location of the apple orchard. The best location for an 

 apple orchard is on high northern slopes tipping down to the 

 northeast, and the steeper the slope the better, provided it does 

 not interfere with cultivation. The northern slope is preferred 

 because it is least affected by drouth, sudden changes of temper- 

 ature, and by drying winds, which very uniformly come from the 

 South. However, some excellent orchards in the Northwest are 

 located on southern slopes. It is important to plant apple trees 



