Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-04-07
Contributed for the Delaware Tribune il
The Culture of Fruit.

BY JOSIAH HooPRs.
There are very many persons living in
the country, who aredoubtless unacquainted
with the various methods of propagating
fruit trees, as practiced in our nursery estab-
lishments; and although the greater portion
of my readers may consider that am merely
going over and over well known ground,
and rehearsing what is laid down in our
works on pomological topics. l still feel
willing to give slight sketch-superficially
it is true of this "twice-told tale" There
are no hidden secrets in the various opera
tions classed under the general heading of
propagation, but a knowledge of the man.
ner In which they are conducted, is not suf-
ficieut to ensure success. Patience and per
severance are the essential conditions of
what nurserymen term a "good strike, :,
and carefully conducted experiments will
soon give any one an insight into the most
feasible methods, as well as the proper time
to practice them. Grating is performed
during the early Spring, and is capable of
being practced on all kinds of fruits, al
though not recommended for such as are
termed "stone fruits" including the Peach,
Cherry, Plum, &c; for these the operation
of budding is most advisable. Cions should
always be cut very early, before there is any
indication of the buds swelling, and after
labelling they may be packed away in damp
moss or sand, and placed in cool cellar
until needed. AS soon as all danger of freez.
ing weather is past, the operation may be
performed, although prefer dcferring the
work until the buds on the stock COM
mence swelling,
Clett-grofting which is most generally in
use, is simple operation, and rarely fails,
provided both stock and graft are in suit
able condition. If the tree should be small,
the entire top is cut squarely of, and split
down for short distance. A wedge must
now be inserted in the cleft, and by gentle
pressure the gratis can be inserted easily and
accurately. The gratis or cions usually con
sist of three or four buds, and must be cut
at the lower end in the shape of wedge.
When inserting this into the cleft, care must
be exercised to have the bark exactly cor
respond with that on the stock. Tn with
drawing the wedge, there ia usually suf-
ficient elasticity in the sides of the anerturs
to keep the graft firm, but if this should not
be the case, il is best to tie tipbtlv with a
soft string. When the stock ia LARGE n cior
NAV be inserted on both sides oe the oman
ing. and on verv LARGE limbs a cross ont ot
right angles tn the former NAV also h. rnodo
and two mora orafts used crae;rr-,,o,, :,
should now be applied TO all tbe exnosod
portion and the oneration will, be finished
| On large trees the praft;nc must be nor
formed IN, fbe limbs and a numbor of o;ors
placed at proper distances. with n view to-
wards forming a sbanelv head 1Vb;,,
ara ftino is usually resorted IN for ,vorl,
ing Seeding plants when NOT more than ora
or two wears of aoe These oro dur ,ho
previous Autumn. and buried in sond =,
moss in tbo cellar co that orv ,;r,a a,,r;r
the Winter thew nav be accessible hut 80
casionallv thew arc worked NO tbov s,ond j.,
the pround In tb;s motbod hoth s,oo,- ava
graft are cut smootblv off with n crodu.l
slone. and at the same ANGLE oaro ho;na
taken that tb.v sball be Of onro, 5;.,,a,.s
| A slight cut called tongue il made in each
ON the smooth surface of tbe o,ono so ,ha,
in nlacino them tooo,bor ,hosa tonr,,a,
must fit accur,t.lv into aacb other A. i