Grafting New Tops on Old Trees. 



203 



cultivation ; while the correct mode of treatment is, very moderate 

 and gradual pruning, in connexion with the best of cultivation. 

 The foregoing correct portraits of actually existing specimens of bad 

 pruning, unhappily have too many originals over the country (Fig. 

 241). This most unsightly mode of trimming is often adopted when 

 a removal of the top by grafting is intended. 



Grafting New Tops on Old Trees. It often happens that fruit 

 on large trees is worthless, and it becomes an important object to 

 change the top by grafting or budding it with some better variety. 

 In this case, instead of cutting off large branches and grafting them 

 at once, it is better to prune the top 

 in part, as shown by Fig. 242, which 

 will cause an emission of vigorous 

 shoots. These are then budded or 

 grafted with ease and success. And, 

 as the grafts gradually extend by 

 growth, the remainder of the top 

 may, by successive excisions, be 

 entirely removed. Where trees are 

 not too old, and the ground is kept 

 cultivated, good-sized trees are thus 

 obtained much sooner than by set- 

 ting out young ones. 



To give a well shaped head to such newly formed trees, and to 

 prevent the branches from shooting upwards in a close body near 

 the centre of the tree, the old horizontal boughs should be allowed 

 to extend to a distance in each direction, while the upright ones 

 should be lopped. This is distinctly exhibited in Fig. 242. 



The following judicious mode of renewing the old tops of trees 

 formerly regarded as worthless, was given by the late George Olm- 

 sted, of Hartford, Ct, in the Horticulturist : 



" These trees I commenced grafting six years ago last spring. 

 I began on the top, and grafted one-third of the tree each year. It 

 therefore required three years to complete the entire heads of the 

 trees. 



" I like this method better than any I have ever tried for grafting 

 large trees, as it gives the grafts a good opportunity to get well started. 

 Cutting off and grafting the top first, gives the grafts there the best 

 possible chance, while the necessary reduction of the top throws the 

 sap into the remaining side branches, which fits them well for graft- 

 Vng the following year ; and the third year, the lowest branches 

 being made ready in the same way, may be grafted successfully 



