OK, I have a question about node count that I have always wondered about. When a cutting is removed from a mature tree for scion, does that branch "remember" its exact node count, or just that it has reached maturity? If one were to take a cutting from a branch that is one flush away from maturity and grafted it onto a rootstock, would that node count start over, or could flowering occur in the following spring?

The following spring it would flower if it was a flush away from it.

As a follow up to David's post, if you take a cutting from a tree, no matter from what part of the tree, nor how high or low the cutting's node count was, it will "remember" what its position was on the original tree and its node count (in reality position and count are the same thing). When grafted onto a new root stock the cutting will start growth from that number. So, if the cutting's node count was 64, the next new growth grown would be 65. - Millet (929-)

Thanks. That is how I thought it worked, but I was not certain. So if you are growing a seedling that is getting too large for its space (or in a pot that is getting too large to bring in the house), you can just take a cutting from the top of the tree and graft/bud it to the bottom. That would keep the node count rolling so you could achieve flowering, but keep the tree size small and manageable, as well as having the whole tree fruit (and not just the very top). You could repeat that process multiple times.

That is correct. - Millet (922-)