GRAFTING AND BUDDING 



scattered over a large orchard, some trees might 

 be in better condition, or have better roots or 

 better soil than others, and thus no accurate 

 comparative test could be made. 



In grafting for the purpose of testing seedlings, 

 the weaker-growing seedlings are placed on 

 the strongest-growing branches of the tree, the 

 stronger growers being placed toward the outside 

 and lower down on the tree and on the smaller 

 branches. 



When so many varieties are grafted on a single 

 tree, some may be extremely vigorous growers, 

 others only moderately so, and still others will be 

 weak, slow growers. In the winter pruning we 

 always take pains to give the weaker growers 

 plenty of space to develop, while the stronger 

 growers are severely pruned. 



It is no small matter to prune properly a tree 

 on which several hundred varieties are being 

 tested. An ordinary pruner might ruin the tree 

 in a few minutes, by leaving the most worthless 

 varieties almost covering the tree, while smaller, 

 slower-growing varieties of great value might be 

 so crowded that they would either die or become 

 stunted and bear no fruit. This later aspect of the 

 process of grafting, then, is one that imperatively 

 demands the attention of the plant-developer him- 

 self, or of his most skilful assistants. 



[195] 



