8 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 418 



reach maturity earlier because they are less vigorous and bear heavily. In the 

 early bearing years they produce more per tree, but in later years, standard trees 

 bear more because the trees are larger. More trees per acre are set and acre 

 yields may be expected to equal or exceed those of standard trees. More trees 

 per acre means greater planting expense, but the cost of trees is a minor item in 

 the total cost of establishing an orchard. The present price of dwarf trees is 

 very high, but prices may be expected to be more in line with those of standard 

 trees when the necessar\' rootstocks are more plentiful. The actual cost of 

 growing dwarfing stocks and trees should not exceed that for standard trees by 

 more than 10 percent. 



Hardiness 



The hardiness to cold of Mailing stocks is of importance. In general, they 

 are as hardy as French Crab seedling stocks; some are distinctly' more hardy. 

 In the colder apple sections, French Crab seedling stocks sometimes are winter- 

 killed, and for such regions the Mailing stocks are of doubtful value. Trees on 

 seedling stocks are planted with little or none of the stock exposed to air temp- 

 eratures, and soil temperatures rarely fall low enough to kill apple roots of any 

 kind except in regions of exceptionally severe cold. Dwarf trees must not be 

 planted so deeply; hence, the stock tissues just below the union will be exposed 

 to low air temperatures. No winterkilling of trees on the Mailing stocks in 

 Massachusetts has been reported up to the present time. 



Anchorage 



One possible weakness of dwarfing rootstocks is poor anchorage. Trees on 

 these stocks ma 3' blow over when exposed to severe winds, especially if they are 

 carrying a heavy load of apples. The different rootstocks vary; some are better 

 anchored than others. Trees on semi-dwarf stocks stood the hurricane of 1938 

 nearly if not quite as well as standard-sized trees. Yet future experience is 

 needed to show whether poor anchorage is a real weakness of such trees. Very 

 dwarf trees are often poorly anchored and need support. 



Very Dwarfing Stocks 



The very dwarfing stocks. Mailing VIII and IX, meet little approval from 

 commercial growers. Trees on these stocks are expected to grow not over 8 feet 

 high at maturity and to begin to bear after 2 to 5 years in the orchard depending 

 on the variety, soil, and culture. Varieties like Golden Delicious, which bear at 

 an early age when grown on seedling stocks, should bear after 2 or 3 years in the 

 orchard while Baldwin and Northern Spy require 2 or 3 years more. Fruiting 

 is much influenced by cultural management. Trees can be planted from 8 to 12 

 feet apart and are, therefore, well suited to the backyard where space is limited. 



Mailing IX is a better stock for the nurseryman than Mailing VIII and may 

 be as good or better in an orchard or backyard. For these reasons trees on 

 Mailing IX are, and are likely to continue to be, more often available to the 

 buyer. Trees on this stock have their faults. Their anchorage is poor and the 

 wood is brittle; consequently, they are apt to blow over or break at or below the 

 union. They should be headed low and grown more as bushes than as trees. 

 The danger of breakage can be overcome by staking the trees. Mice and rabbits 

 seem to prefer these stocks; at any rate, it is wise to protect the trees by the 

 usual means. 



