The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1913-10-02


In most interesting and instruc
tive treatise on top grating fruit
trees, Prof o. B Whipple, Of the
Colorado experiment station. says II
is becoming more and more apparent
that certain localities and soils are
peculiarly adapted to growing partic
ular kinds and even varieties of fruit
Commercial fruit-growing localities
are making their reputation by being
able to grow their few varieties well.
There comes time then when the
grower will have to solve the prob
lem as to what to do with the unde-
sirable varieties. Shall he pull them
out or graft them over TO better varie-
ties?
1t has been proven by long expert
ence that if properly done the graft
ing over Of old trees by top working
brings quicker returns than the re-
planting of young trees. In fact 1t
is not uncommon to see fairly good
crop on the three-year-old top of top
worked tree.
Trees properly worked over give
crops which are sometimes more de-
sirable than trees of the same variety
grown from first class nursery stock.
Top working, as means of estab-
fishing a weak-growing variety on
stronger root system than its own
is now coming into favor. For in
stance, the Rome Beauty when on its
own roots, is on the best soil an in
different grower. but when worked on
some strong growing stump it makes
a very satisfactory tree.
The practice OF grating is not a
mysterious art as many suppose. but
is so simple that any careful or
chardist can and should do it himself
All common fruit trees can easily be
budded or grated.
The apple and pear may be inter
grated upon each other and this is
true of the peach. plum, apricot and
almond. However, such wholesale
mixing is not good in practice. and the
pear and apple never make a good
union
Peach gratis start vigorously upon
apricots and plums upon the peach |
.rees. Professor Whipple says he has
seen plum trees top-worked to peach
.rees with perfect unions and the ten
year-old tops bearing excellent crops.
Growth in diameter Of the tree only |
axes place in a very small region |
between the bark and the sap wood |
This part of the stem is called the
,ambium and 10 this thin layer of
issue the cells are still active while
he activity of each succeeding layer
IN each side grows less and less.
The important point in grating is
O see that the cambium layers of
he stock and the cion are matched
t some point When the growth is
ctive we say the bark "peels." Bud
ing is done during this period. not
My because the ease with which the
ark separates from the wood simpli-
es the work of inserting the bud. but
8 the growth is more active the it's
ues of the bud and the stock are
lore likely to unite.
It does not pay to graft trees which
how poor growth and it seldom pays
, TOP work any crab 1t Is also ques-
enable as to whether it pays to top
-ork stone, fruits. While good tops
lay be grown on either peach. apricot
r almond, 1t is doubtful whether
lese crops will bear much quicker
sturns than young trees set in the
lace of the old ones
There are various methods of graft I
re the most common in the west be- t
g cleft and curf grating These
are simple and are known f
most orchadists. t
In cleft grating, the limb is sawed |
7 squarely. the stub split down about s
70 inches with the grating ch!sel
i'd the cleft is wedged open with
e wedge on the back of knife and
e cion inserted as wedge. +
The first bud should be left a little j
low the top Of the wedge. cutting r
9 edge Of the wedge opposite the I