264 The Fruit-Growers Guide-Book 



or more varieties of apples on one tree. In fact as many 

 varieties as there are branches may be top-grafted on a 

 single tree. It is a matter of great curiosity to see apples 

 of different colors and sizes growing on the same limbs, 

 but it is easily done by grafting scions of the desired va- 

 rieties on bearing trees. New varieties may be oftentimes 

 hurried into bearing by working them on the branches of 

 trees that have reached bearing age. 



It will be necessary to collect the scions for top-grafting 

 early in the winter before freezing weather and store them 

 in the manner described above. The grafting is done early 

 in the spring at the time the leaf buds are beginning to 

 open. At this time the sap in the tree to be top-worked 

 will be flowing freely, but the scion to be inserted upon it 

 should be perfectly dormant in a cellar. 



To do the work, saw off the old branch, if as much as 

 an inch in diameter, or even the body of the tree if not 

 over four inches thick, and split down through the center 

 with a hatchet or knife. The scion (which is the same 

 kind of, wood as described for other scions) should be only 

 four or five 'inches long, and at the butt end whittle oil 

 both sides to a wedge shape. In making the wedge the 

 slope must be long and uniform, care being taken to whit- 

 tle about the same amount of wood from each side. Pry 

 open the split in the trunk or branch to be grafted and 

 carefully insert 'the scion so that the bark on one side will 

 be exactly in. contact with the inner part of the growing 

 bark of the old stub or stump. This is extremely import- 

 ant, for here is the place where they are to grow together, 

 and they cannot do so if the bark of one piece is not in 

 line with the bark of the other. If the old branch or trunk 

 of the tree is large enough, that is, thick enough, it is ad- 

 visable to use two scions, one on either side of the stump, 

 as this will double the chances for success. If the grafted 

 stump be as much as three inches thick, a wedge for the 

 purpose should be made and driven down in the center of 

 the cleft just far enough to prevent too great pressure on 

 the scions and yet not far enough to cause them to be 

 loose. After driving down to the proper point, the wedge 



