Apple 



( 60 



Apple 



shoots. " Free " stocks are obtained by sowing the 

 seeds of Apples, and are mostly used for standard 

 trees. The Crab stock obtained from seeds of the 

 wild Crab is suitable for standard and permanent 

 orchard trees. The kind of stock used has a great 

 effect on the character and longevity of the trees. 

 Apples worked on a dwarf stock are quicker in 

 coming into bearing, and more suitable for garden 

 culture, than those worked on Crab and free stocks ; 

 but they have not the same vigour or lasting 

 power. 



Budding. This method is generally practised 

 for raising trees. Dwarf trees are worked close to 

 the ground, and standards and half-standards a 

 few inches above. The operation is quicker than 

 grafting, and is performed in July and August. 

 (For mode of procedure, see BUDDING.) 



Grafting. The process called whip grafting is 

 the best for raising young trees. The scions should 

 be selected from vigorous trees in February, and 

 be laid in the ground till the sap has risen in the 

 stocks in April, when they may be worked. But 

 grafting is a useful means of renovating old, and 

 changing the character of unsuitable, trees. 

 Inferior varieties and undesirable specimens of 

 established trees should be headed back late in 

 winter, and be grafted with the sort required in 

 the spring either by the "crown" or "cleft" 

 process. If properly done, growth will be vigorous, 

 and in a few years' time the old tree will be fur- 

 nished with a new head {see GRAFTING). 



Forms of Trees. Standard trees have clean 

 stems 5' or 6' from the ground, and are suitable 

 for permanent orchards. Half-standards have 

 shorter stems, and are adapted for gardens, and 

 market plantations. Feathered standards are 

 furnished with heads, but they are worked close to 

 the ground, and have fruit spurs on the stems. 

 Bush trees are worked near the ground, and are- 

 suitable for gardens and plantations. Pyramids 

 are worked low, and have an erect stem with 

 branches radiating all round. Espaliers are 

 suitable for growing on walls and fences. They 

 have perpendicular stems with side branches in 

 tiers at right angles. There are several other ways 

 of training wall trees. Perpendicular single cordons 

 are trees with single fruiting steins. They are 

 excellent for growing about 2' apart on walls and 

 fences provided for their support in the garden 

 when a number of varieties are required in a small 

 space. Horizontal single cordons have one stem, 

 trained horizontally, and are useful for growing by 

 the sides of walks in kitchen gardens, about 2' 

 from the ground. 



Soil. The best soil for Apples is a rich, deep, 

 and well-drained loam. South or south-west is a 

 good aspect. Soil and situation have a great 

 effect on Apples, and where these are unfavourable 

 hardy and vigorous sorts should be grown. Shallow 

 mediums, with cold, wet subsoils, are unsuitable, 

 and are conducive to canker. Low situations 

 should be avoided, and land holding stagnant 

 moisture requires draining before planting. 



Planting. November and December are the best 

 months for planting. Standards for permanent 

 orchards should be placed 30' apart, and they 

 succeed best if the ground is under cultivation 

 for a few years before being laid down to grass. 

 Failing this a few yards round the stem of the 

 trees should be kept clear of turf until the 

 specimens are established. If the soil is fairly 

 rich no manure is required when planting, other- 

 wise a little decayed material may be mixed with 



the compost placed above the roots. Prepare wide 

 stations, shorten back long and jagged roots, 

 spread out the fibres evenly, and cover with a few 

 inches of soil. Stake the trees to keep them in 

 position, and place a mulch of manure on the 

 surface. In wet soils it is better to plant on the 

 surface and make a mound over the roots of the 

 trees. Bush trees on dwarfing stocks may be 

 placed 12' apart to form plantations. The same 

 distance is suitable for pyramids. 



Pruning (Branch). The objects of pruning are 

 to form shapely trees and to enable them to 

 continue bearing. In using the knife the operator 



ti 



ur~- 



SUMMEH PKVXING APPLES. 



E Leading growths of bush and pyramid tree : s, leader ; 

 t, point of stopping; u, continuation growth stopped 

 to three leaves ; v, sub-continuation growth ; ur, 

 laterals pine.hed to one leaf; x, side shoots pinched 

 at about ti" of growth to form stout side and sub- 

 sidiary branches ; y, short stubby shoot not to be 

 stopped; z, terminal bud, plump aiid rounded ;i 

 blossom bud. 



must be guided by the habit of the variety and 

 character of the tree. In the case of standards 

 and trees of unrestricted growth, the head must 

 be kept open, congestion of growth avoided, and 

 all shoots that rub and cross each other removed. 

 Dwarf and pyramid trees that are furnished with a 

 sufficient number of main branches may have their 

 leading shoots of the current year's growth 

 shortened back a little to induce the lower buds to 

 break, and the side growths cut back to two 

 buds for the formation of spurs. All side shoots 

 of espaliers and cordons should be treated in the 

 above manner, and the leading growths left three 

 parts their original length for the purpose of 

 extension. Summer pruning consists of shortening 

 these side shoots to four or five leaves while 

 growing, and cutting back to two buds in the 

 winter. All leading shoots on standards, bushes, 

 and .pyramids should be cut to an ontsiilc bud to 

 avoid overcrowding the centre of the tree. 



Pruning (Root). This operation becomes neces- 

 sary when trees are making exuberant growth but 

 producing no fruit. In the case of young specimens 



