Girdling for a Purpose 279 



be advised as a general resort, although it may be allow- 

 able to employ it on one or two of the minor branches of 

 an unprofitable tree for the purpose of determining 

 whether the tree needs a check. One sometimes sees a tree 

 on which one or two large limbs have been girdled, and 

 these limbs may be bending with fruit when the remaining 

 branches and the adjacent trees are barren. 



Ringing may usually be performed with safety in 

 spring, when the leaves are putting out. A ring of bark 

 2 or 3 inches wide may be removed to the wood, and en- 

 tirely encircling the limb. One hears of excellent results 

 following the simple severing of the bark but removing 

 none of it completely around the tree with a sharp 

 knife, in spring. These, of course, are only incidental 

 operations, to be employed with caution. The treat- 

 ment of trees that have been damaged by girdling 

 is quite another subject; this is discussed on page 

 290. 



The regulations of societies and exhibitions usually 

 prohibit the competition of fruits produced on girdled 

 branches with those produced normally. 



Top-grafting bearing trees. 



One of the important factors in the secondary care of 

 an apple orchard is the grafting over of old trees or of 

 worthless varieties. Whether it will pay to graft trees 

 after they are fifteen or twenty years old depends on 

 how profitable the trees are in their present condition. If 

 they are bringing in no return, then nothing can be lost if 

 they are grafted; and if the trees are strong and healthy, 

 and not too old to make vigorous growth, there is reason 

 to expect that much may be gained.^ If the operation 

 of top-grafting is properly done, the trees ought to be 



