The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-02-15
Every one Can Graft.

Our frat successful grnfting was done
at the age of nine years. "At home" we
had ali old orchard that seemed to be
past its period Of usefulness, and what
apples it did bear were Of inferior sorts.
twas \ question whether to cut down
the treea, or try and rejuvenate them by
the application Of All abundance of ma
nure, we'll stirred into the soil, and by
grating the old limbs with new and
superior varieties Of fruit. 1t was con.
cluded to see whit virtue there WAS in
manure and cions, and this gave us M
opportunity.to watch the process ofgraft
ing. Before the job WAS finished we
had learned the art of cutting cion,
making cleft, applying the wax, ETC.
Later i'll the season it WAS source of
much qualification 10 see the young gratis
we had put in, growing along with those
set by master hand.
This rcm!niscencc Of youth is given rs
proof that grating is not monopoly Of
gifted minds, or an art that can only be
acquired by the few. With the ordinary
amount of "gumption" to begin with,
followed by careful teaching for only n
short time almost any one can graft sue
cessfully. Grating is simply planting ~
cutting Of one variety in wood Of anolh-
er, instead of in the soil 1t is essential
that the growing layer Of the cion and
stock come in close contact, and be 30
held until they grow together. Now is
the time to get the cions. They may be
bough ht at most nurseries, and great care
should be taken to get only the best w.
rieties: If cut at home, be equally care.
full 10 get them of the right kind, cutting
only twigs Of last seasons growth. Each
sort should be cut separately and tied in
bundles, labeled, and afterwards put in
boxes with damp sawdust or moss, and
kept in !, cool place until used. 4 aE.
saw, two good knives, ono strong and
heavy, the other smaller, with a keen
edge; q hardwood wedge, six inches
long and balf an in.n thick, and a small
mallet are the implements used in graft.
ing. The wax may be easily made by
melting together, beeswax 8 o., rosin
and tallow o., each, over moderate
fire, stirring gradually until all is melted.
Rolls Of waXed cloth may be formed from
old cotton stuff made thin by wear, and
cut into strips two inches wide. Wind
strips upon stick and dip them into the
melted wax when the cloth is thorough.
ly penetrated by the wax, let drip, and
put away from dust ready for use.
Grating should he done as soon as the
buds begin to swell. Having determined
upon the place for the graft, snw off the
branch, smooth the cut surface and make
a cleft with the knife and mallet. Cut
the cion from the twig, leaving two or
three buds upon the piece md sharpen
the lower end into q wedge. Open the
cleft with the knife and placs the cion in
carefully 80 that the lower bud comes at
the top Of the cleft. The inner bark, or
growing layer of the cion and the stock
should touch as much as possible. II
the grated branch il small, single cion
is enough, one on each side. Unroll
enough wa1ed cloth to cover the wound,
of both stock and cion, and press it on
carefully and closely. The quick appli.
cation of this protection is only matter
of practice. 1t is we'll for beginners to
start with worthless limbs before doing
regular grating in the orchard. If pos.
sible find some one in the neighborhood
familiar with the process and learn the
art from him. The general principles
may be obtained from printed directions,
but the success Of the york will denend
upon the knacb, and that is only acquir.
ed in the orcharl.-American 4 grieuHu.
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