STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 5|^ 



branches, one will avoid the necessitj- of cutting off large limbs ia 

 after years, — a practice that should always be avoided if possible ; 

 but if there should be any such overlooked and grow to be an inch 

 or more in diameter, make a smooth cut and appl}' gum shellac pre- 

 pared in alcohol, with a brush, and when once hardened, heat or 

 moisture will not affect it. 



GKAFTIXG. 



The proper time to graft is in the spring, as soon as the season is 

 warm enough to put the sap in motion. The best time is when 

 April showers are prevalent, and it ma}' be continued until June, 

 but the scions had better be cut previous to this. The}* may be cut 

 in autumn and stored in a dry, cool cellar, with the ends in sand or 

 dr}' soil. For scions, cut the the thrifty wood of the last season's 

 growth fx'om bearing limbs. I prefer shoots near the top or center of 

 the head of an old and thrift}' tree. It is easy for any one to learn 

 to graft. Grafting is the true way of propagating almost all choice 

 fruits. There are many formulas for making grafting wax, which 

 can be readily procured. 



VARIETIES. 



What varieties of apples shall we cultivate? is a question of 

 importance. It is a well known fact that some kinds will succeed 

 admirably in one place and utterly fail in others. Probably the 

 best plan to adopt in making a selection for an orchard is to examine 

 carefully what sorts succeed best in the vicinity where we wish to 

 plant an orchard, and select a very few of the most productive and 

 best selling varieties. Furthermore, the farmer who neglects to 

 provide for himself and his family a succession of choice apples, 

 commencing with July and continuing until the next July, each 

 variety crowding upon the others with no interval of dearth, 

 neglects the privilege of his birthright, and no wonder that his 

 children desert the old farm with no feeling of regret, for it is to 

 them a scene of privation rather than of enjoyment. They share 

 the hard work and have none of the rewards which skillful industry 

 should bestow. 



It hardly admits of discussion that habits of observation are of 

 practical assistance, are indeed a necessity in all the industrial pur- 

 suits of life ; and tlii,s is especially true of fruit growing. The fruit 

 grower has to deal with climate, soil, location, markets, insects and 



