84 THE APPLE-TREE 



this is allowable only on young trees. Probably the bet- 

 ter practice is to graft the main small side limbs and the 

 main trunk or leader higher up. Usually it is better to 

 leave some of the branches on the tree, not removing 

 them all till the second or third year. 



In old apple-trees, the main branches are grafted, 

 where they are an inch or two in diameter. Care is taken 

 so to choose the branches that a well-shaped free-headed 

 tree will result. Only a small part of the top is removed 

 the first year, and three or four years may be required to 

 change the top all over, the old branches being removed 

 as the new ones grow. In about three years, or four, the 

 grafts should begin to bear, — about as soon as strong 

 three-year-old trees planted in the orchard. 



Any variety of the pomological apples will grow on 

 any other variety, but apples do not take well on other 

 species, as does the pear. The pear may be made to grow 

 on the apple, but the graft is short-lived and the practice 

 is not recommended. Boys may graft indiscriminately 

 for practice, but grown-ups, having arrived at the un- 

 fortunate age of discretion, must operate only on those 

 kinds known to succeed when joined. I have never 

 known a boy who did not want to graft anything, as soon 

 as his attention was called to the operation. The boy 

 does not take it for granted : he wants to try. 



