(3) Training and Pruning - The present thinking is toward training 
dwart apples to a lom-headed, epen-center type gimilar to a peach tree, 
Also, as inthe case of peaches, a judinious heading-oack type of 
pruning should te used to maintain vhe desired tree size after the 
tree has come into bearing and reachec this size, The grower who has 
the desire and knowledge to use a consistent, size-controlling type of 
pruning is able to take a semi-duarf stock like II and produce the 
same size tree at a given age as another person with trees on VII who 
merely lets them grow, 
(4) Planting Distance — Many commercial growers areé planting dwarf 
trees ina hedge-rov system, planning to drive only one way through 
the orchard, Thus, we have suggested a planting distance of 20x30 for 
the semi-dvarf stocks, The trees are alloved to grow together in the 
row with space to drive only the 30' way, This plan allovs a slightly 
larger tree with consequent larger bearing surface than the same number 
ef trees per acre planted 25xe5 with space to drive ooth directions, 
(5) Conditions Affecting Fruit Setting - Dwarfing stocks cause all 
varieties to bloom eariier in their lives than is the case on standard 
stocks, However, if these first blossoms fail to set fruit because of 
frost, poor pollination, disease, spray injury or faulty nutrition, 
the tree goes ahead and continues to gro” as vigorously as a standard 
non-bearing tree, Therefore, the grower who follows good cultural 
practices to encourage fruit set will get his dvarf trees into a bear— 
ing habit sooner, 
DWARFING ROOTSTOCKS FOR THE COMMERCIAL ORC HARDIST 
We have found that,actually, the semi-dwarf stocks such as I, II, 
and XIII are not radically-enough different from standard trees that 
any good apple grower should tbe afraid to try a percentage of his new 
plantings on these stocks, They are the same size as standard trees 
at planting time and start off growing as vigorously for the first 
year or two or three, They definitely cause any variety to bloom 
earlier and attain a bearing habit sooner, assuming other conditions 
are favorable to fruit setting. They enable any good grower to plant 
trice as many trees per acre, get {nto production sooner, reach maxi- 
mim production per acre early in the life of the trees, yet maintain 
gmall tree size with a minimam of effort, In this way, the maximm 
yield per acre can be maintained throughout the Life of the orchard, 
yet the small size of the trees will make all cultural oper ations 
easier and cheaper, This type tree thrives best on intensive treatment 
ard are adapted for the grower who will take a special interest in 
them and give them the best possible care, 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING DWARF APPLES TREIS WRITE TO: 
LORNE J, DOUD 
Orchardist & Nurseryman 
ag 8 
Wabash, Indiana 
