The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-11
Grating Fruit Trees.

The winter season affords the oppor-
tunity of looking through the orchard and
deciding whether or not any of the trees
would be better for grating, writes Jo-
seph Meahan in Gardening. Very often
there are trees of kinds unsuited for the
locality and which would be greatly i'm
proved by being grated with sorts known
to do well. 1t may be, too. that room
could be found for the trial of some of
the newer kinds. 1t is better where trial
kinds are to be used that they should be
placed on a tree by themselves. rather
than a kind here and there throughout an
orchard. A tree with more than one sort
on it is rarely good shaped. Nearly ev-
cry variety of fruit has a habit of growth
peculiar to 1t, and when two are on one
tree the growth is rarely uniform so that
a well shaped tree is out of the question.
Trees are often as much valued for their
beautiful growth as for the fruit they
bear.
Cions for grating should be cut while
still entirely dormant. If left on the trees
until the buds begin to swell, grating is
not apt to be successful. A good many
practice cutting them soon after New
Years The best shoots are vigorous ones
from vigorous trees. Such as are of about
three-eighths of an inch in diameter are
about the right size to use, or trihe
smaller or larger These shoots are to be
kept buried up in soil, out of doors, or
in a cool cellar, there to remain until
wanted. When to be used, cut them so
that two eyes will be left to each piece, to
appear above where inserted in the stock.
The proper time to graft is when the
buds on the trees are Visibly swelling.
This indicates a flowing of the sap, which
must commence beforehand or grating
will not succeed. If the cions are entirely
dormant, grating may be successfully
done even after the trees are almost in
leaf, though much better done when the
first signs of swelling buds are perceived.
On the other hand, if done before the sap
rises, the cions dry out and die receiving
no support from the stock.
To be successful in grating, the outer
bark of the cion must exactly meet the
outer bark of the stock and the cion must
be cut as true as possible, that the parts of
each may fit each other closely. Some
times when the stock is of much larger
diameter than the cion, two cions are
used, one on each side of the stock, and it
is a very good arrangement.
1t is not often that branches over an
inch in diameter are used for stocks.
Those of three-quarter-inch diameter are
very good. The larger ones will usually
hold the cion by their own spring, with
out having to tie them, but those of lesser
diameter are the better for being tied, to
hold the cions firmly in place After this
there is still to be applied some material
to keep dampness and air out. In olden
times clay was used, but at the present
time what is called grating wax is used
nearly altogether. This can be bought
cheaply ready for use at any large seed or
horticultural store. Those who prefer to
make their own can do so by melting to-
gether one pound rosin, one-fourth pound
beeswax and two pounds tallow, to be
warmed up and be applied with brush,
Just enough to cover all the cut parts is
sufficient. liquid mixture is made as
follows: One pound rosin, one once beef
tallow, when cool, after melting, add
eight ounces of alcohol, and keep it in a
bottle,