The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-05-04
for the farmer.
SPRING GRATING.

The season is near at hand more when
spring grating may be done. Those OF us VINO
c.l:nc frriti the Eastern States, where apple or
rharts were as common almost the rocks III
the lirli,s. know what this means. MANY VIII
relnrmlcr the travelling peddler, who, with his
brntiIe of CRAFTS under one arm, and grating
wax and under the other, used TO travel tue
country pntting in CRAFTS at 81 mnch apiece
Sometimes they proved TO be what was fecoih-
nIr,i,ica; .Ht niirner. We fear, they were some,
thing else Nevertheless many good orchard
was begun III this way, and many an uDprohta-
BILE Seeding converted into fruitful and prom
table ample tIe'. Grating Is very simple thhs,
which even boys may readily learn to 40, ana
there il an abundant opportunity for them al
ready in this new STATE. Many of our Irahceh-
Ieut crab trees would be snrer of producing
crops and living out their allotted days II thrH
were top-gTaftcd with the Wealthy or Dutchsss.
The blight sooner or later will finish them, but
il the tops are entirely cut off and gratis inser-
ted they will probably grow and bear Tor years
TO come. We would not advise the grating oil
more than three yaTieties-the Wealthy, Du-
chess and Tetofsky. Secure your grants IRON
brarin. trees and be sure to take last season
wood Take them from the side shoots ana cut
last a. the sap begins TO flow and the buds
start to swell. DO not let them be exposed 10
sun or wind, but keep moist till they are SET
Four things must be carefully observed IN Grai-
tinp-first that the operation be performed with
a sRarp knife. 30 that the pores may be cut
smoothly and evenly, and the two parts De
brought into even contact; second, that there pe
a considerable pressure applied to keep these
parts together; third, that the line OF division
between the inner bark of the wood should CO.
incide or exactly correspond; and tourthly, that
the cut parts be excluded from the air by the
grating wax. A limb about three-fourths OF an
inch in size is best for cleft grating. Saw on
evenly and smoothly, and then with a sharp
knife and mallet split down for say two inches.
Insert wedges in the split to hold it open, 80 that
you may insert your graft, and then gently
push the latter down, taking care that the inside
line of til, bark corresponds exactly on both
stock and scion. The graft should be made
wedge shape in order to be inserted, and the
part that is to be outside being thicker than the
part that goes the outside White 80 that
there shall be n bud on the graft just above the
top of the stock you have sawed of, and let the
graft be three four inches in length, with two
or more buds on it. Now cover all the cut parts
with grating wax, warming it so that it will he
soft and tim and readily flow into the split
which has been made. Tie paper bag or news
paper around the whole, being careful not ia
have it press against the graft. This keeps the
sun out and prevents drying up. When the bud
is started il can be removed, or if there comes q
moist, wet spell Immediately after the graft has
been set, it may not be necessary to use il at all
Most people insert two CRAFTS in each stock, cut
ting of one after the stronger has got a good
start. If the tree to be grated is the Trancen
dent, do not allow any shoots TO grow bu
the graft but cut off numerically ever
sprout aud cover with wax. A sprout from thu
main stock is pretty sure to blight in time, and
ruin both itself and the CRAFTS. A good, vigOr
Gus stock will force graft along an amazing
rate, and bring you fruit, perchance, the thirt
year. If you have any proiitless seedlings abou
your place, by all means see TO it that they ar
converted as soon possible INTO either q Du
chess, Wealthy or TetOfsky tree.