BEST TIME FOR GRAFTING. 
Commence in January if much is to be done. February is probably the 
best month on most of the Pacific Coast. March is as good if the grafting wood 
has been well kept. April is not too late, and May, sometimes and for some 
things, is a good month. 
SIZE OF BRANCHES TO BE GRAFTED. 
One and a half to two and a half inches in diameter is the best for old trees. 
If cut back to where the branches are thicker the tree receives too great a shock, 
the grafts do not take hold as well and the tree forms a close, bunchy head which 
is not ornamental or profitable. Grab F ’'ranches where you wish them to 
grow to form a new top, leave r - ^ smaller and unimportant branches 
to keep the sap up until the graA: I _ m one season’s growth. All suckers 
near the grafts should be pulled off as soon as they appear. 
CARE AFTER GRAFTING. 
It is very important to watch and cut back a part of the new growth ear^ 
in the season, else the wind may get too great a leverage and break out the 
grafts before fully healed over. It is also often best to reinforce them for a 
while with a small twig or stick tightly tied to the old branch and lightly tied 
to the new growth. 
Fruit which sells for five or ten cents per pound usually costs no more 
than the one-cent-a-pound variety, often much less. 
