The most rational view is that in order to bear regularly the tree must be prevented from overbearing by thinning of the fruit; also that the moisture and plant-food supply must be regularly maintained, so that the tree may work along regularly and not stop bearing one year in order to accumulate vigor for a following year’s crop.  There is some reason to believe that some trees which seem to overbear every year can be prolonged in their profitable life and made to produce a moderate amount of fruit of large size and higher value by sharp thinning to prevent overbearing at any time.  This is found clearly practicable in the cases of the apricot, peach, pear, apple, table grape, shipping plum, etc., because the added value of larger fruits is greater than the cost of removing the surplus.

Scions from Young Trees.

I have bought some one-year-old apple trees that are certified pedigree trees.  Would it be practical to take the tops of these trees and graft on one-year seedlings and get the same results as from the trees I bought?  Will they bear just as good, or is it necessary to take the scions from old bearing trees?

They will bear exactly the same fruit as the young trees will, but you cannot tell how good that will be until you get the fruit.  The advantage of scions from bearing trees is that you know exactly what you will get, for, presumably, you have seen and approved it.

Late Pruning.

Will I do injury to my peach trees if I delay pruning until the last of
February, or until the sap begins to run and the buds to swell?

It will not do any particular harm to let your peach pruning go until the buds swell or even after the leaves appear.  Late pruning is not injurious, but rather more inconvenient.

Avoiding Crotches in Fruit Trees.

How can I avoid bad crotches in fruit trees?

Crotches, which means branches of equal or nearly equal size, emerging from a point at a very acute angle, should be prevented by cutting out one or both of them.  The branching of a lateral at a larger angle does not form a crotch and it usually buttresses itself well on the larger branch.  That is a desirable form of branching.  Short distances between such branchings is desirable, because it makes a stronger and more permanently upright limb, capable of sustaining much weight of foliage and fruit.  Build up the young tree by shortening in as it grows, so as to get such a strong framework.

Crotch-Splitting of Fruit Trees.

I have a young fig tree that is splitting at the crotches.  I fear that when the foliage appears, with the force of the winds the limbs will split down entirely.