280 



The Principles of Fruit-growing 



FIG. 100. Top-grafted young apple 

 tree, after four years. 



completely changed over to 

 a new variety in three or four 

 years (Fig. 100). It should 

 be said, however, that the 

 careful fruit-grower will find 

 out whether his trees are to 

 be profitable or not long 

 before they reach the age of 

 fifteen or twenty years. If 

 there are strong indications 

 that the varieties are un- 

 suited to his needs, the sooner 

 they are grafted the better. 



In grafting the top of an 

 old apple tree, it should be 



borne in mind that the operation at best is harsh, and that 



the top should be replaced 



as quickly as possible. Effort 



should be made to graft 



only limbs of comparatively 



small size (say not more 



than 1J/2 to 2 inches in 



diameter, and preferably 



less), and to set very many 



cions, even if some of them 



need to be cut out after 



two or three years. The 



setting of so many cions is 



somewhat expensive, but 



the orchardist should be 



able to do the work himself. 



Finally, it should not be 



, i , i j i j FIG. 101. Undesirable form of 



expected that a remodeled top-grafted tree. 



