DWARF FRUIT TREES. 



BY PROF. F. A. -VVAUGH, AMHERST, MASS. 



Delivered before the Society, February 11, 1905. 



There used to' be considerable interest in dwarf fruit trees fifty 

 to seventy-five years ago. They were nearly always mentioned 

 in the pomological discussions, and all the text-books of that time 

 made extended reference to their use and propagation. This was 

 partly due to the fact that American horticulture at that time 

 had not broken entirely away from the horticulture of Europe. 

 Dwarf fruit trees had always been grown in the old country and 

 the European books gave liberal attention to them. There was 

 still another reason for the attention given them, however, in the 

 fact that they were considerably grown. At that time, further- 

 more, the great commercial interest of the present day had not 

 come to the front. But during the last few years these com- 

 mercial enterprises have monopolized our thought and we have 

 largely forgotten about the old-fashioned amateur horticulture to 

 which the growing of dwarf fruit trees belongs. 



At the present time there are many indications that we are 

 coming back to some of the old-fashioned ideas, especially as 

 regards amateur fruit growing. There is a lively renewal of 

 interest in small grounds and gardens. These circumstances, 

 along with several others, are bringing dwarf fruit trees back to 

 notice ; and in all probability they will come back into vogue to 

 a certain extent. At all events there is very much in the subject 

 to interest us ; and our knowledge of dwarf fruit trees, their 

 propagation, pruning, and training, ought to be reviewed and 

 brought up to date. 



First of all it may be proper to tell what a dwarf fniit tree is. 

 That seems like too simple a question to be mooted, but it is a 

 question I have so often asked me that I think best to make the 

 explanation. A dwarf fruit tree is simply one which is made to 



