DWARFING. 



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a large number of specimen trees, or of varieties upon a 

 small piece of ground, or to have small trees beside the 

 alleys of onr gardens. Such plants are also well adapted 

 for growing in pots, or in the borders of an orchard-house. 

 It is claimed for dwarfed trees, that they are more prolific 

 than those which are worked on free stocks, which are 

 often erroneously called standards, and it is also asserted 

 that these dwarfed trees will bear sooner and produce 

 finer and larger fruit. 



The terms used may as well be explained at once. 

 When we speak of dwarfing stocks, we mean such as are 

 so uncongenial as to check the wood-growth ; and thus, 

 while producing smaller trees, they have a tendency to 

 early fruitfulness if properly managed. But this condition 

 may be superinduced by other means than these. Hence 

 in speaking of dwarf pear trees, it does not follow that 

 they have been worked on the quince or other unconge- 

 nial stock. A dwarf tree, of whatever kind, is simply one 

 that has been caused to assume diminutive proportions. 

 Dwarfing stocks are contrasted with free stocks, or those 

 which would have attained the full size of the species, and 

 which, when grafted, produce large trees. These are 

 often mis-called standards, when contrasted with those 

 that have been worked on the quince, or other dwarfing 

 stock. Whereas, the trees propagated on free stocks, 

 may also be dwarfed, by means that will be presently de- 

 tailed ; and the term standard refers really to the mode in 

 which the training of the specimens has been performed. 

 Those which are trimmed up as orchard trees are usually 

 treated as standards, and are said to be trimmed to stand- 

 ard hight. Those branching at a lower point are called 

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