The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-24
Grating.

Editors Oh the Register:
Although the art of grating was
known to the ancients, yet it is to the
art as it is understood and practiced
modernly that we are to look for it as
contributing most to the advantage, and
convenience of mankind. Its great
utility consists, chiefly, in enabling us
to multiply individuals of the same
variety, to any extent, without impair
ing or destroying any of their qualities,
which caunot be done by the common
or natural process of propagation from
seed; and, also, in the acceleration of
fructifcation and the more perfect de.
velOpment of fruit.
The principle on which grating de-
peHds is this: A plant or shrub, instead
of being single system of life, depend
ing for its existence on the perfect or
ganization or all or most of its parts, is
composed of number of separate and
independent systems of life, which may
be separated from each other without
injury, and which possess the power to
project roots and branches and become
a plant or tree. For example: each bud
on the limb of an apple. tree is the cen ter
of separate and independent vital or.
ganzation, capable, under fitting in
huences, of sending out roots and
branches, aud becoming tree, "bring-
ing forth fruit after HIS kind" Hence
it is, that a twig or scion, being
properly inserted in stock,
is excited to action by the sap
it receives from the stock, and
emits roots which project themselves
between the bark and wood of the lat
ter and become layers of wood, uniting
the stock and scion into one tree instead
of becoming roots proper as they would
were they projected into the earth.
Mode Of Gratting-As it is of great
importance that farmers and orchard.
lists should be acquainted with tho diff.
ferent modes of grating that are prac-
ticed throughout the country, l will
state, forthe benefit of the readers of
the REGISTER, how our grafters
manage it. Ia the first place the
CRATER provides himself with two sharp
knives, one for the rougher cutting, the
other for preparing and smoothing the
surfaces which are to come in contact
an operation that requires much care,
as it is matter of the utmost import.
ancs that the sap pores should be cut
smoothly off and not scraped asunder
These implements for small trees are
sufficient, but for large trees a saw, a
grating ohisel and wedge are neces-
sary. Thus equipped he proceeds to
"business."
Cleft grating is the mode commonly
practiced here, and is performed in the
following manner: The stock is cut
off and a cleft made in it to receive the
graft. The graft is made of portion
OF scion, two or three inches long,
and containing not less, than
three buds, and smoothly shaved off at
the lower end in the form of a wedge,
so as to ii the cleft, The graft is then
fitted in the cleft so that the line be-
tween the bark and the wood of the
stock and the graft will perfectly coin
eide. When the graft is fitted the
wound is completely covered over with
wax plaster, so as not to be exposed
to the weather. The operation is now
complete, nothing further being neces
sary than to take care that the graft be
protected from injury or accidental dis.
placement.
The varieties OF apples generally
grown here arc the fall and winter Ram
bo, the fall aud winter Belleaower, the
Wine apple, the Rome Beauty, the
Golden Russet, the Queens Fancy, the
Sweet Russet and the Grindstone apple,
all of which are firstrate apples and
well adapted to our soil and climate.
G. w. NJ.
Troy, Gilmer county, W. Va.