GRAFTING 



221 



subject in itself and can be treated only very briefly here. One 

 of the chief points to be secured in the remodelled tree is a low 

 top, and it is also one of the most difficult points. There are 

 two ways of doing it: Either the new grafts or buds must be 

 put on water-sprouts which come out low on the trunk or main 

 branches, or else we must use what is known as the crown or 

 bark graft. The former method is much to be preferred, and 

 where water-sprouts are already available or can be developed, 



FIG. 99. 



FIG. 100. 



FIG. 99. An old apple tree before beginning renovation. Two-thirds of the top is dead 



and the rest sickly. 



FIG. 100. The same tree as Figure 99, de-horned after one year's treatment. 



there need be no difficulty in changing over the top. It is 

 simply a question of budding, if sprouts are small, or of cleft 

 grafting, if the sprouts are large. For budding we should have 

 a branch not over half an inch in diameter, and the ordinary 

 shield-bud method is used. 



The more buds we put in the more quickly the new top can 

 be grown, and it is such a simple operation that the extra cost 

 amounts to very little. In such a tree as is shown in Figure 

 100, fifty buds might be used and the tree changed to the de- 



