86 RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 



sure to be necessary. But it would never do to prune an old 

 and neglected tree in the same way as a young one, for an 

 immense amount of wood would have to be removed, and the 

 result would be far from satisfactory. All that can be done 

 is to cut away dead and dying branches, and to thin where 

 necessary. The wounds should be dressed with tar. 



PREPARATION FOR GRAFTING. 



Trees of poor varieties require different treatment. As 

 no method of pruning or manuring would effect any real im- 

 provement, they should be used as stocks for grafting on 

 scions of good varieties. The best time for the operation is 

 the beginning of April, when the sap is in motion. But the 

 shoots from which the scions are to be cut should be taken 

 off a month or two earlier, and laid, with their cut ends in 

 soil under a north wall. Unless this is done they will prob- 

 ably be in a more forward condition of growth than the older 

 wood of the stock, with the result that a swelling will pre- 

 sently appear just above the graft. When the stock is more 

 forward than the scion, the swelling is below the graft. When 

 both are, as they should be, in the same condition, there is 

 little or no swelling. 



" HEADING BACK." 



The tree may be "headed back," either in winter or 

 just before the operation in spring. If it has a number of 

 strong, healthy branches, each may be sawn off about six 

 or eight inches from the stem. If it is desired to graft on 

 the stem itself, it should be cut down to the required height. 



TOE PRINCIPLES OF GRAFTING. 



There are many different methods of grafting, but it is 

 not necessary to describe more than two or three. The general 

 principle is th'e same in all. The inner wood, it must be 

 remembered, has finished its growth. Tt is quite inert, and 



