The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-04-03
About Grating.

THERE is hardly an orchard in the
West which does not contain more or
less trees that are barren and unpro-
ductive. The reason is, because many
tree-planters wanted varieties that were
popular in some other State, and which
do not bear on our soil; others were the
dupes of tree-peddlers, who generally
buy the unlabeled kinds that nursery
men have to sell, because they are
cheap, and then name them to suit
their orders; while others wei e sold by
nurserymen without knowing their
value.
Nearly all such trees can be rendered
productive and profitable by regrafting
their tops with varieties that produce
well. It is always best to secure the
services of a skilled CRATER, because
the work is more certain to be well done
and no time lost. A skillful workman
is cheap at s. or $40 day. A good
workman, with q boy to assist him,
should be able to set about 1000 gratis
per day; and 80 per cent. of these
should grow.
Skilled grafters are not always to be
found, but any man with little me-
chanical skill can learn to set cions in
an hour, and with experience comes
rapidity of work. Our advice to be-
ginner would be, to 90 to some nursery
and tell the foreman or proprietor
frankly Just what was wanted, and pay
him for a lesson in celebrating. tits
somewhat difficult to give descrip-
ton of the manner of performing the
various operations without cuts, but the
following plain directions will, if fol-
lowed, enable one to become skillful
CRATER in very short time: The out
1T needed consists of q step-ladder; q
small fine saw; q pair of hand pruning
shears, costing $1.25; two jack-knives,
with blades of the best material; an
oil-stone; timers stove; two-quart
tin kettle that will fit in the top Of the
stove; q ten-cent varnish brush; q stock
of ci0ns; and determination to learn
the business. If the trees are very
large, the CRATER should wear rubber
boots or shoes, so as not to break the
bark while standing on the limbs.
Grafting-wax is made by melting
resin, beeswax and tallow together.
As all resin is not of the same quality,
little Judgment must be exercised in
making the wax. Take two pounds of
resin, one of tallow, and one-half
pound of beeswax, and r2elt together
over q slow fire. If it is melted too
rapidly, it will boil over. Dip q stick
into the mixture, and, if the wax ad-
heres we'll, hardens Immediately and
without cracking, it is all right. If it
does not do 50, add little more resin
and beeswax. If it cracks, add little
tallow. This wax is put around the
graft with brush, while it is warm
and of consistency to run in and fill
oil interstices. 1t is cheap-s0 do not
be afraid of putting on too mucl.-al-
though an experienced hand will spread
it very thin and make it answer every
purpose. The wax must be warmed
from time to time as it becomes too
thick. The end of cions should be
covered with it, and, wherever limbs
are cut from the trees, the wounds
should be coated. ia
A large tree, fifteen or twenty years
old, should have about half its limbs
grated, and will take from 200 to 500
gratis. The CRATER should begin ON
one side and prune off the useless and
sickly twigs, and then with the prun-
ing-shears begin to cut the limbs tor
grating. There 10 only one way that