CARE OF ORCHARDS. 25 



GRAFTING. 



In starting- a new orchard it is usually advisable to set trees 

 which have been grafted in the nursery, rather than to set 

 chance seedlings with the expectation of top-grafting them. 

 Some varieties, as the Baldwin, do better when "top-worked," 

 but even for such, nursery grown stock of Ben Davis, Northern 

 Spy, Pewaukee or some other hardy, vigorous sort will give 

 more uniform and satisfactory results than will seedlings. 



While, in general, it is well to avoid top-grafting, there are 

 few orchards in which some such work is not necessary, and 

 many worthless seedlings, along the roadside and in the pastures, 

 ma)^ be converted into valuable sources of income. The most 

 successful grafting is that which disturbs the tree least. The 

 first rule to observe, in grafting large trees is : "Graft many 

 and small limbs." Before commencing to graft, decide carefully 

 at what distance from the body, or from the center of the top, 

 the main limbs should be cut to insure a good top. If a spread 

 of six feet or ten feet from the center is decided upon, graft all 

 of the main branches at that distance. In other words, one 

 must plan for the future top of the tree; simply making the 

 cions grow, being but a part of the operation. If the tree has 

 been properly pruned, most of the more conspicuous branches 

 should be grafted, and to avoid long pole-like limbs some cions 

 should be set on the side branches of all the larger limbs. The 

 practice of grafting a few large stubs low down, is not to be 

 commended; the shock of removing a large portion of the top 

 at one time is a serious one, and there is often injury from sun- 

 scald. A good grafter will leave enough small brush in the 

 center of the tree to screen the trunk and larger branches. 



Old neglected trees which are to be worked over, may with 

 profit be given a preparatory pruning a year or two before graft- 

 ing. Unnecessary limbs can be cut out better before grafting 

 than afterwards. The ungrafted limbs must be gradually 

 removed ; the removal being made annually to about the extent 

 of the growth of the cions, or a little more. 



