82 THE TREE BOOK 



about ten days, the buds have grown fast and 

 the boys go back over their work, clipping the 

 bands and leaving the loosened strings to un- 

 wind and blow away. If the bandages were left 

 on, Iheir tight pressure would interfere with the 

 growth of the little tree. 



The next step is to remove the tops of the little 

 trees just a few inches above the bud set. Then, 

 when the bud has made a growth of an inch or 

 two, the main stub is cut off. The nurseryman 

 is now ready to begin to count the age of his 

 apple trees. Two or three seasons of growth 

 are still needed to prepare the trees for custom- 

 ers. The first year, the bud sends up a single, 

 leafy shoot. The next year the little tree begins 

 to send out branches. AU shoots which start 

 out below where the bud was set are rubbed off, 

 as they would bear seedling fruit. Many other 

 branches, too, are discouraged, so that the tree 

 may be kept well-shaped. A good three year 

 old apple tree has its main branches well-out- 

 lined and a trim, spreading top. 



In making over old apple trees, grafting is 

 the method employed. By. this process, it is 

 possible to entirely change the variety of a tree 

 in three years' time. Suppose a man has an 

 orchard of Ben Davis apple trees and he wishes 

 they were Yellow Transparents. All he needs 



