The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-15
SUCCESSFUL GRAFTAGE.
Some Simple Methods Which Can Easily
Be Carried Out


Grating is the operation OF inserting
a scion into a stock, usually for the
object of changing the variety Of fruit
| produced, says the Springfield Republi.
can Trees bearing undesirable fruit may
be top-grafted with some valuable va
riety. Many choice half.hardy varieties
may be successfully grown by top-work-
ing on some hardy stock. Especially de-
sirable characteristics in any variety
may be pcIpetuatcd by grating lndi-
| viduality Is quite AZ marked In plants
as ii animals. a certain tree may pos
sess some desirable quality, and this may
be preserved and perhaps improved upon
By selections Ii Il advisable which cut
ting scions ao select from those trees
which have the desirable characteristics
most strongly marked. Nurserymen, as
d rule, do not pay sufficient attention
to the source from which they secure
their scions, says the American Cultiya-
tor Tie individual orchardist may
greatly improve his plantation by top
grating with scions from a tree having
the desired qualities most strongly.
Grating i usually performed IN the
spring. II Is essential that the eambiuin
layer ii the scion and stock he in CON
tact on ait least one side. From this
murilaginous layer. lying between the
wood and the bark. the new cells are
formed which in tinn unite and cover
THE wound 1t ii necessary to cover the
wounds made in outdoor grating To pre-
vent the entrance Of reproducing
spores. For this purpose wax Is general
BIZ used. A gaod grating wax may be
made bv melting together four pounds
of resin. two pounds bceswax and one
pound tallow. Cool By pouring into a
tub Of water Then work up into bars
Or balls which may Ia Kept in any cool
place until required, 70 economic wax.
cloth is sometimes dipped into the hot
wax. making wax cloth This Is more
diiIiens To nsa than pure wax. The
wax may he melted ID glue pot and
applied with brush, or as Is more com
monty done, il may be kept IN water
warm enough to keep the wax pliable
so ii may IL readily applied hy hand
1t Ii well to Keep The hands creased to
prevent the wax from adhering 70 the
fingers
There ARE two common methods Of
top grating Whip oF tongue grating.
which IA pFaeticed upon small branches
aud young trees Cleft grafting. which
is usually performed On branches from
anehalf To two inches III diameter In
whip grating the stock il cut with d
bepel about one inch long, and tie scion
is cut to lit the hevel Both beyels are
cut into slightly and the tongue Of one
fitted into Tic notch III the other The
cambium layers must be in contact on
at least one side. After the scion is set
the wound should be covered with wax
or similar substance to exclude che air
Large trees Should not be entirely chang
Cd oVer IN one year The first year select
the main branches. tile second year part
u tile remainder, and finish the third
year III this way much Of the annoy
mce caused BIT he growth Of water
sprouts Il avoided
Wien cutting III large branches for
cleft grating it Is wise ta eut twice,
making the first cut d few inches above
the position chosen for the scion. Then
cut oil the stub at the desired point,
and avoid tile danger Of tearing the
bark With chisei or grating iron
split the branch just far enough to adj
NIT the scions To keep a split wealSens
the stock, and the seions viii not be
held sufficiently firm 1t is well to avoid
grating two horizontal limbs. one d.
reetly above tho other The tendency
of new growth is upward. and the
growlhs from the lower one will inter
lere with the upper In branches, other
than those growing perfectly upright,
the split Should be made parallel to,
rather than at right angles TO the ground
The scion should be made wedge
shaped with bevel about one inch long,
starting at each side iust at the base Of
the bud Make the scion three buds long,
cutting oh just above the third bud.
Il should ho chi a little thicker on the
side next TO the bud, 50 that the stock
may pinch tightly on that side to insure
close contact on the eambium layers
Open the cleft with the wedge end Of the
grating chisel and insert one or two
seionsJ as may be thought necessary.
Place the lower bud OF the scion TO the
outside Do not force the leverage on
the chsel to admit the scion freely
Setting the scion with the top pointing
slightly outward insures contact in at
less one point. After settling the scions.
cover all wounds with wax. 1t IS some.
times necessary to remove part of the
water sprouts which usually start during
the summer. to give tie scion room for I
proper development. BY the following /
spring the scion should have made suiii- I
Client growth to require all space in that
part Of the tree. and ell other growth
should be removed {