Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-06
agricultural.
Grafting Ample Trees.

The Ne,o England Frrn1er says; " One
of the first requisites to success in the OPP
Grafton of grating, at this season of the
year, is Il supply of good scions. These
should have been cut several weeks AGO,
and preserved in moistened straw in boxes
in the cellar. Expert grafters do some
| times succeed with Sclons cut and set the
same day, but the work must be done early
in the season before the buds start. If the
scions have been well preserved, grating
NAV be done at any time from April to
July. We have had trees grated after
the apples were rs large as acOrns, and
nearly every scion lived and made Il good
growth. \ warm, pleasant day should be
selected for doing the work. 1t requires q
considerable degree of judgment to prop
erlv prepare Il tree for grating. Some
times the whole of the top is sawed off at
once In the case Of small nursery trees,
this practice is well enough, but if the trees
are large the shock is too great for their
health, and the sun is let in so directly on
the bark of the trunk and limbs which
have been previously shaded by the top
branches, that great injury is often pro-
duced. The bark becomes scorched and
| frequently is entirely killed, thus running
the future value of the tree. We have
found it a better way to leave portion of
the top limbs on for protection against the
sun, and to take the excess of sap as it
flows.
Having selected the number of limbs
to be grated, saw them all off Il few inches
above where they are to be grated, thus
getting them out of the way, and preven-
ting disturbance of scions already set, us
would be the case if each limb were cut
and grated at once. Next, cut the scions
into lengths Of two or three buds each,
leaving about an inch of wood below the
lower bud. With sharp knife pare the
scion to neat wedge. Prepare enough
for the whole tree, and throw them into a
pail of water. Then with IL fine, sharp
saw, re-cut each limb, being careful not to
start the bark from the wood. The later
in the season, the more care will be re-
quired to prevent doing this. With a
| light mallet and thin knife, split the stock
down an inch or more with Il clean cut
then drive wooden wedge into the heart
of the stock to keep the cleft open to re-
ceive the scions. Insert two scions in each
stock, if of moderate size. The inner
bark of the scion and that Of the stock must
come together nicely, to insure Il union.
The scons being in place, withdraw the
wedge and then cover the whole of the cut
portions of both stock and scions with
cement or clay previously prepared. If
clay is used, it must be bound on with old
strips of wooden cloth and well tied, to
prevent it from being washed off by rains
Good wax needs no covering Clay and
wax are each used by successful grafters,
some preferring wax. and others clay
Good grating wax is made by melting
four parts resin, two parts beeswax and
one part tallow, in a kettle over Il fire.
When melted, pour into dish of water to
cool. and then work by pulling it in the
hands like molasses candy. Some nursery
men dip narrow strips Of cloth in the
melted wax and wind these around the
stocks, as being more convenient than wax
alone. If clay is used, it should be free
from grit, and a little COW dung mixed
with it will do no harm. 1t should be just
soft enough to work easily, and retain its
place until confined by the cloth. The
grating wedge should be of hard wood
and foot long. with a notch near the top
for driving it out after the scions are set