APPLES 



129 



but all of them are essentially the same. 

 The formula which has been used for 

 many years by the Horticultural Depart- 

 ment of the I'niversity of Missouri and 

 found to be yery satisfactory, is as fol- 

 lows : 



Common resin 7 lbs. 



Beeswax , 2 lbs. 



Beef tallow .1 lb. 



If this much is not desired divide each 

 of the above items by two, three or four, 

 as may be needed. Dissolve all of the 

 ingredients in a vessel over a fire, stir- 

 ring thoroughly. When they are well 

 mixed, pour such of the mass as can be 

 handled at one time into a tub of water, 

 where it will quickly cool. Grease the 

 hands with tallow and gradually work 

 the mass together in the water. When 

 cool enough to stick together, remove 

 from the water and pull like taffy candy 

 until it becomes too stiff to work. The 

 process should be kept up for at least 15 

 minutes, or until the mass has changed 

 color, much in the same manner as mo- 

 lasses candy. Roll into balls four or five 

 inches in diameter and store away until 

 needed. It will keep indefinitely. In- 

 stead of the beeswax, some people prefer 

 to use paraffin. A pint of raw linseed 

 oil is sometimes used instead of the tal- 

 low that was recommended. 



BnddJng 



Apples may be propagated readily by 

 budding at whatever time the bark peels 

 best. This date will vary from .Tune to 

 September, depending upon latitude and 

 weather conditions. The work is usually 

 done during August or the first week in 

 September. The buds must be inserted 

 in the wood that grew the same season 

 that budding is done. If the trees are 

 grown from the seed thej' may be too 

 small for budding the first season. In 

 this event they should be cut back to 

 the ground the next spring, and the new- 

 sprouts budded towards the close of the 

 season. The stock is usually transplanted 

 before budding. The branches of old 

 trees are sometimes cut off and the new- 

 growth that comes out may be budded at 

 the proper season. Similarly where the 

 trunks of trees are cut off for the same 



purpose or which have been top grafted, 

 but the scions did not grow, sprouts will 

 arise, which may be budded. 



Relatively speaking, apple trees are not 

 budded to any great extent, as it is more 

 convenient to propagate them by means 

 of the root graft. However, some nur- 

 series make a specialty of budded trees. 

 It has been claimed that budded trees are 

 superior to those grown from root grafts, 

 the argument being that there is no 

 wound below ground, and hence the or- 

 ganisms which often attack the roots of 

 apple trees will cause no injury. This 

 is undoubtedly partially true, although it 

 is found that budded tress are attacked 

 by the diseases known as "crown gall." 

 as well as those that have been grafted. 

 As a rule budded trees make a better 

 root system than piece root grafts and 

 therein lies their superiority if they pos- 

 sess any. (Detailed statement of how 

 budding is done will be found under the 

 heading of Peaches.) 



Dwarf Apples 



Any of the common varieties of ap- 

 ples may be grown as dwarfs, provided 

 they are worked upon the Paradise apple, 

 which is a natural dwarf. 



Doucin stock produces what is known 

 as half-dwarf apples. Some varieties of 

 apples are not adapted to being grown 

 as dwarfs to any great extent in this 

 country. In general, the very vigorous 

 growing varieties are not adapted to be- 

 ing dwarfed. The Ben Davis, it is known, 

 will not dwarf successfully. 



Paradise and Doucin stock must be im- 

 ported from Prance, Holland or Germany, 

 as they are rarely propagated in this 

 country. Since there is now a small de- 

 mand for dwarf apple trees, the larger 

 nurseries have begun to carry them In 

 stock. The very large nursery firms of 

 the country generally are able to supply 

 small orders for Paradise or Doucin stock 

 for grafting purposes. They are more 

 expensive than the common stock, as the 

 usual method of propagation is to mound 

 up the earth around the little trees and 

 permit the numerous branches to take 

 root. Then they are cut away and sold. 

 On this account (being rooted branches). 



