Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-02-16
lanraster :9nteIligeneer.
GkAFTING,
Some Timely Hints On the Subject

Some Timely Hints on the Subject.
Germantown Telegraph.
The season will soon open when grating
fruit trees may be commenced, and those
who have any grating to be done, and are
not up to doing the work themselves,
should look around for some capable per
SOD to do it for them and it should be
disposed Of at as early day as possible, or
ont door farm labor will start with rush
and the comparatively trifling thing as
grating will be forgotten until it has be
come too late TO be attended to, and has
TO be passed over with the thought that it
will do Just as we'll 20 be attended to next
year, when it shall be done without fail,
etc. There is always somebody to be
found who understands grating and who
will do all one has to do in hall day, at
q charge of from two to four cents per
graft. In providing the gratis 1t is better
for each one TO obtain from neighbors,
who will or ought to give away the gratis
they have to spare, as we have done for
about forty years, having cut them and
stuck them in the ground couple Of
inches at the loot of each tree, il order
that while they will be perfectly preserved
in this way there will he ne mistake as to
the variety.
As We have more than once suggested, +,
every farmer and gardener ought to be
capable Of doing his own grating. When
ONCE understood, there is nothing more
simyie or easy. a quarter of an hour
spent in Observing any good CRATER at
work ought 10 be long enough to instruct
how it IS doce and to do it. La order that
those who may desire to attend TO their
own grating may possess the best ln!or-
nation we can offer them on the general
subject, we will repeat what our own ex-
perience enables us to communicate.
Stocks or limbs to be grated, not over
two inches in diameter, should be cut OF
at the distance of four inches. A fine
saw should be used. Incline the saw SO
that the stump, if perpendicular. will
shed the rain. The bark must be unin
iured With a sharp knife smooth off
the sawed stump. Take case knife,
which is as good as any, place it across the
heart of the stock, and force it down with
u wooden mallet. We use a very narrow
screw driver for keeping open the split.
Shape the scion wedge fashion both ways,
keeping the bark intact. We make a
shoulder as far up as the scion is shaved
which though not SO strong, better IN
sures growth. The inside of the bark OF
both scion and stock should meet or cross,
in oricr that the sap of the two may com
mingie. Set the scion at slight angle
spreading from each other. When the
stock is small and only one scion inserted,
place piece of wood on the opposite side
of corresponding thickness. If the slit
does not close up sufficiently, tie round a
cotton string to keep it tight upon the
graft. Cover with acaT eDery part Of tie cu
and slit. la three weeks time go over the
crafts ard rewax if needed. 1t is air and
rain getting in that destroy. Where the
limb to be grated is from two to fOul
inches over, it should be cut say six inches
from the tree, and from four to six scion,
may be inserted.
When there Is only grating to be done
on ones own premises We make the wax,
as We have often Published it, and as We
have used it upon our own premises fol
some forty years as follows f0nr parts o
losin one part of beeswax. and one part q
beef tallow. Melt them together il d
skillet (Which is the best or tiucup aud
stir well. 1t should remain in the vesse
and use as needed. Apply with a light
wooden paddle Or spatula. Twenty ol
thirty sciODs can be waxed with ons warm
ing up. When much grating is to b'
GCDea little fire for heating the wax siioult
be made between two bricks or stones.
Now, having said SD much on this sub
ject, we will close by adding that any
professional CRATER, by sending his nam
and address to us will have it insertcl
gratuitously-not SO much for the benefi
of the CRATER as those having grating t
do