Top-working Fruit Trees 165 



Subsequent pruning will consist in such cutting-back 

 as will help form a stocky and well-shaped top. They 

 will demand the same attention as young trees. Spread 

 the top by pruning to outside buds or branches and do 

 not pay too much attention to the small wood. Some of 

 the small branches may require cutting-out or clipping- 

 back, but remember that in this we have the start for 

 early fruiting- wood. In Figure 53 is shown a well- 

 formed top-grafted tree. Small limbs were chosen for 

 grafting and enough of the original top was left to afford 

 protection and to provide nourishment. Fewer grafts 

 would probably have answered the purpose just as well. 



TOP-WORKING YOUNG TREES 



There is a growing conviction among fruit-growers that 

 better results may come from planting vigorous young 

 trees of some strong-growing kind to be later worked over 

 to the desired variety. In the opening remarks on this 

 subject, mention was made of the desirability of working 

 weak-growing kinds on stronger root-systems, as well as 

 top-working, as a means of lessening loss from attacks of 

 root troubles and woolly aphis. The embarrassment of 

 growing the orchard to a bearing age only to find some 

 of the trees not true to name may be avoided by this plan 

 of starting the young orchard. The fruit-grower has ob- 

 served also that few trees of the same variety are alike in 

 bearing habit and character of fruit, as we have said. No 

 doubt, many growers have some particular tree in their 

 bearing orchard that is better and nearer their ideal than 

 all others. By choosing grafting wood from this tree, 



