40 



THE APPLE 



The average orchard in America, nevertheless, is of the standard 

 type. A standard apple has been grafted upon a free-growing or 

 ordinary seedling tree, the grafted variety through this union being 

 able in general to grow to large size. 



In the standard trees the trunk is left bare of limbs from the 

 height of 1 8 inches to 8 feet. The general tendency to-day is for 

 a lower-branching tree, and the older standard of 5 to 8 feet tree 

 trunk is fast giving way to trunks only 12, 18, and 24 inches 

 in length. 



Recommendations for the average orchardist are to grow the low 

 standards. The specialist, however, may be able, under certain con- 

 ditions, to cultivate with great profit the more intensive dwarf apples. 

 Dwarfs are also deserving of a place in the home garden, where 

 special care and attention will be given. 



Pedigree trees. The now generally accepted term " pedigree 

 tree " is described as a fruit tree — in the present case an apple 

 tree — of proved strain ; that is, a tree which produces fruit of 

 high quality, color, and characteristic markings of the variety, 

 provided the tree is healthy and free from disease at the time 

 the buds, or scions, are taken. 



These trees, therefore, would be the results of selecting scions 

 from trees that bear fruit which is able to win prizes at the 

 horticultural-society exhibitions, following this selection by still 

 later choice from the grafted offspring of the parent, and so on 

 year after year. 



This is quite different from the usual cutting of scions by nursery- 

 men. Many of these men obtain their scions from the blocks of 

 nursery stock previously propagated and not from bearing trees. 

 This common practice is not a desirable method, as the tendency 

 would be to produce trees away from the idea of fruiting. However, 

 there are nurserymen and orchardists that do practice a selection or 

 pedigree system of producing nursery stock. These men have noted 

 the peculiarities of individual-bearing trees, and when one tree of 

 this variety excels, or one tree of another variety excels after several 

 years of bearing, scions are cut from these choice trees and used for 

 reproduction (grafting). The progeny is, as well, closely watched and 

 careful notes taken, and soon trees are sold which have known 

 parentage just as much as some of our registered horses or cows. 



