PROPAGATION. 87 



the sixth year from the first grafting, harvested 28J bush- 

 els of choice apples from a single tree that was 75 years 

 old, and which before only produced inferior fruit. J. J. 

 Thomas recommends, "to give a well-shaped head to such 

 newly formed trees, and to prevent the branches from 

 shooting upward in a close body near the centre of the 

 tree ; that the old horizontal boughs should be allowed to 

 extend to a distance in each direction, while the upright 



Fig. 16. JRENEWAL OF THE TOP OF AN OLD TREE. 



ones should be lopped ;" see fig. 16. The same writer also 

 advises, "instead of cutting off large branches and graft- 

 ing them at once, it is better to prune the top in part, 

 which will cause an emission of vigorous shoots. These 

 are then budded, or grafted. . * * * And as the grafts 

 gradually extend by growth, the remainder of the top 

 may, by successive excisions, be entirely removed." 



GRAFTING IN THE NURSERY is either done at or near the 

 collar of the stock, or it is performed in-doors upon the 



