The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-08-10
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From ,he Western Hor,iculiurist.
Bark or Bud GRATING.


As the season il now approaching in
which fruit trees and other grafiiug is
generally practiced, would suggest,
for the benefit Of persons engaged in ,
that operation, a plan which have sue
eessfully adopted for the last two sea-
sons. And without supposing il new
(although il is not the one usually re-
commended in books,) win describe
il and its advantages over the common
cleft grating. l have no doubt it is
described among Mr.. Thomas's fifty
methods but never having seen those, !
and supposing a majority Of grafters in !.
the like pre,licament, | am induced to
give il publicity.
This system, however, only applies
to trees Of half an inch or more in di-
ameter. For smaller stocks and roots.
whip-splice and cleft-grafting are pre-
ferable. In consequence Of the nume-
rous mistakes of nursery men from
whom | have purchased trees, after
ffuiting q large portion d my apples
and pears, have been induced tore.
graft many, which ] did in the usual
way, (by cleft grating j and having
regularly lost about thirty three per
cent. by the wind blowing them out.
after making a fine, e,yigorous growth
of more than two feet, came TO the
conclusion that ! must adopt some oth,I
er method. WHICH have tried for the
last two seasons without having sim
gle one blown out. saw OF the limb
or stock square across, and pare it
smooth, the same as for cleft. grating,
. without splitting the stock, but merely
!, the bark. one half or three fourths Of
an inch down, ON one or more sides, ac-
cording tn the number Of gratis which
wish to insert and after preparing
the scion or graft, taking as usual three
budsj though when they have been
scarce | have used only two, and in
several instances only one successful
". Cut the graft diagonally across,
, with slope Of about an inch long, then
with the point Of the knife open the
. bark at the top Of the slit sufficiently
to introduce the cut point of the graft,
push it gently down until no more Of
the cut portion is visible, tie up or wax
in the usual way, and the operation is
, finished ut the end of the season Of
; growth you will find that your graft
has grown firmly to the side, being al
|, most as strong rs any other lateral
shoot; and, if you put two or three in,
by the end Of the second or third sea-
: son, the whole top of the stock, if not
too large, will be covered by the callus,
and look perfectly natural; whereas
. cleft.grafting, owing to the split in the
stock. never fills up; moisture gets in
which, producing disease, ultimatel,
! causes the tree, frequently when it has
IS attained full growth, to split and break
l. down. | have lost no less than foul
d out Of row Of ten fine twelve year ole
Bellefleur apple trees this last season
: which were grated five feet from ths
ground in the old way. As covering
: for the graft, ! always use cheap mus
lin. dipped in hot grating wax, cut in
to strips from one.haff to one incl
:. widei; it saves tieing and time, and !
: much neater.
A scion can be inserted on the sid
& of any limb by opening the bark in tn,
same way as for budding or a graf
neatly fitted into gimlet hole on an.
: part ofAa.. stock or limb will answe
equally well; in fact, it is a beautiful
method when you wish to fill up wit
limb any naked space for The sake Q
i. symmetry.
e;
s. $. March 10Th, 1883.
" The undersigned has practiced bu
.; or bark grating upwards of eight 9
- os ten years successively, and has neve
=. a. seen but one blown off by storms
u. which originated from shoot GROWN
up by the graft, and robbing it of not
: rishmept to perfect the union of tn
:, bark. He has engrafted on smalleran
D larger sizes than are described in tn
he above letter, apple, pear, plum an
apricot, JOS. L. SMITH.
Washington, July IS, 1883.