150 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



When growth is most active, we say that the bark 

 " peels." Budding is done during this period because 

 separation of bark and wood is possible; it not only sim- 

 plifies the work of inserting the bud, but, as growth is more 

 active, the tissues of the bud and the stock are more likely 

 to unite. 



TOP-WORKING OLD TREES 



In the working over of old trees, it is well to bear in mind 

 that trees which show a poor growth in the orchard are 

 seldom worth the time it takes to graft them. This is very 

 often true of some varieties of apple. For example, we 

 have never yet seen a Yellow Transparent stock grow a 

 top worth the space it occupied. The same is almost in- 

 variably true of tops on Wagener, Duchess, Missouri (Pip- 

 pin), Wealthy, and Hyslop crab. In fact, it seldom pays 

 to top-work any crab. Figures 48, 49, and 50 are from a 

 series of photographs of a Transcendent crab-apple, the 

 first showing Winesap grafts one year old and some just 

 set; the second figure, the same tree one year later (quite 

 a promising tree); and the third figure the result at the 

 end of the third season, almost the entire top being blown 

 off by a heavy wind. The grafts were Winesap and were 

 set in a kerf, not a cleft. 



As a rule, the weaker-growing varieties are very unsatis- 

 factory stocks upon which to work other kinds. Then the 

 wisdom of top-working stone-fruits would almost seem 

 questionable. While good tops may be grown on either 

 peach, plum, apricot, or almond, it is doubtful whether 

 these tops will bear much quicker returns than young 

 trees set in the place of the old ones. Still, we would 



