Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-30

explain, before ne makes sucn DrOaui bWoop-
ing assertions, why it is that healthy
scion grated on healthy Seeding root must
necessarily produce q "humbug tree
while il would have been all right if It had
been splice grated ten or twelve inches
higher. He couusels we'll when he advises
farmers to graft their scattering trees that
come up around on their farms" while your
Glover correspondents remarks wherin he
pronounces such trees to be "old scrubs" and
the method recommended ITO be uncertain,
slow and Improbable" will not apply to
Southern Vermont.
We could show him many trees Of that
class which have been grated at some point
above the surface Of the ground" which are
now in good condition and will rival any
trees in this locality whether root grated or
otherwise.
There are in this locality many trees
which have come up Of themselves in the
fields and pastures. They have been neg.
lected perhaps and are rough and scraggy,
but at the same time many of them are
hardy aud hearty. Whenever this is the
case irst class trees can be made from them,
and good fruit obtained much sooner than
can be grown from such as are set from the
nursery. The owner of such trees should
lose no time 10 causing them to be grated.
If the trees are of bearing size aud the work
we'll done three years will be sufficient to
give good crop Of fruit.
The proper method with such trees is to
graft the whole tree at one time, and any
healthy grated tree which is shy bearer
or which produces inferior fruit may be treat
ed in the same way.
Some recommend grating but a portion
Of the tree at once and consequently being
two or three years in going through the
whole, but this is waste of time. If the
work is we'll done, care being taken TO graft
small limbs not more than one inch in diam
eter, the work can safely be all done the
same year. No pruning moro than is neces-
sary to do the grating should be done at
this time. Tho sprouts which start around
the scion should be kept rubbed of during
the summer, but no other pruning should be
done until fall when about one half the re-
naming natural branches should be taken
out, the remainder being allowed to grow
another year, when the whole may be remov.
ed, leaving the scons in sole possession.
Many procure their grating done and
neglect the absolutely necessary after-pruu-
ing until the natural growth has completely
ehoked and starved out the growing scious,
rendering the work Of grating of no avail,
and then condemn both the CRATER and the
system, pronouncing one 4 cheat and the
other humbug.
Professional grafters are often accused Of
setting more scons than are needed. There
is sometimes good reason for this charge m
unprinoipled, ambitious workman will crowd
more sclons into conveniently shaped tree
than are necessary, will work some stocks
which do not need grating and omit other
not so handily situated which should DO
worked in order to give the proper shape.
But the owner Of ungrafted trees often
goes to the other extreme and will no
allow as many sciOns set as the good Of thu
trees require. If too much grating is don,
the pruning saw affords an easy remedy
while if the tree is but partially worked
very severe pruning will be required to di-
vest it Of the remaining natural branches
so severe as sometimes to greatly ipjure the
tree.
The subject Of fruit culture is of mucl
Importance aud should command more car,
and attention from our farmers.
TOMLINsON.
THE above is from one of our most valueC
correspondents, and we hope to hear iron
him often.