91 



man who lost one-third of his trees which w^ere from 15 to 20 

 years old in a single winter because he neglected to protect them 

 from mice. 



R. M. Eldon. What time do you bridge graft? 



Mr. Frazer. Just as soon as we can in the spring. Bridge 

 graft all girdled trees just as soon as the ground is thawed and the 

 sa^^ beg^ins to move. We drive our chisel right into the wood above 

 and below the injured portion. Cut the graft to fit the place and 

 spring it in ; tie it in with raffia and wax it. Cut the raffia about 

 ten days or two weeks later. Allow one bridge graft to each inch 

 of injured surface. If they do not take, of course, the tree may 

 have to come out. One important thing is to stake the tree and 

 tie it firmly to the stake so that the wind will not blow it and spring 

 the grafts out. 



Member. Is it as good to top-work at the time of planting as 

 it would be to grow the tree one year and top-work the next? 



Mr. Frazer. W'ith us the tree is more susceptible to fire 

 blight if the top-working be deferred than it would be if done the 

 first year. If I were doingr it to-day I would either graft as al- 

 ready outlined or insert 3 buds, one above the other on the windward 

 side of the tree about one inch or inches apart in August after 

 planting. If all take, cut two ofif when you come to top the tree. 

 You have three chances. Do not allow more than one bud to grow. 

 If all three buds fail the tree can be grafted the next spring. I 

 would not care to advise anyone to try top-working, although some 

 of our growers feel that they must top-work Kino- just as some of 

 you feel that Grimes' Golden is worthless on its own trunk. 



E. B. Snyder. What would you advise planting to top-work? 



Mr. Frazer. We have tried to get Talman Sweet since it 

 has a good trunk. I prefer it to Northern Sdv. since we find a 

 number of trees wdiich show color rot. 



R. M. Eldon. Would you prefer budded trees to root grafts? 



Mr. Frazer. I have no choice. I think, however, I would 

 rather buy a Northern Spy root grafted than trust to a budded tree 

 of that variety. 



A Plate of Apples from Adams County. 



