Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1892 — ORCHARD AND GARDEN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

Bow to Uraß. Anyone possessed of fair intelligence and a good degree of care may practice some of the more simple methods of grafting and with good

success, says a correspondent in Farm and Home. A grafted tree will usually bear in

from two to five years, which,' with the certainty that the fruit will bo true to name, gives It a great ad-> vantage over nursery stock. Scions are cuttings from shoots of the previous year’s growth, and should be taken from a thrifty vigorous tree.

They may be cut in December or February, or, indeed, any time in early spring before the buds begin to swell. Or the cutting* may be made at

the time they are set, if the grafting is performed before the leaves appear. If they are not to be used at once», they may be kept for an indefinite period by placing them in a box of sand or sawdust in a dark, cool cellar.

’ Good wax’ is made of four part# , resin, two of beeswax and one of ltallow, which should be simmered together and poured into water to cool. Pull and work it until thoroughly’ incorporated and of good color, and then make into rolls of convenient size. Waxed cloth is made by dipping strips of strong cotton cloth in the melted wax and 'hanging them across small sticks to harden. Grafting may be done at almost any time when the weather will permit the wax to spread t freely. I have done the work

early as April 1 and as late as July 4. A beginner will do well to graft about planting time. There are many different methods, such as saddle, sido, splice, whip or tongue, cleft and crown-grafting. The last two are the most simple to practice, the most common and the most likely to tie successful in the hands of a novic*. In cleft-grafting, a branch is saw&d

off and the stump so, formed split longitudinal-' ly across the heart. Fig. 1 illustrates a grafting hook which is useful for this; ais the blade, b the

wedge and c the hook to hang It Ly. After the cleft is made, keep it open with the wedge (Fig. 2) until the scions are inserted. The scions should be cut wedgeshaped in two ways, as in Fig. 3 and also in Fig. 4, which show a crcssseetion of the scion. In this cleft one or two scions are set, and the whole

wound waxed over carefully. The scions should be the length ,of two or three buds, and fitted to the cleft in the stock, so that the inside or white bark of each will unite with the

other. If the limb is large, a ’small

chip may be placed in the center of the split, that the scions may not be pressed too tight. A bud should not be left on the top of ascion, or it may shoot up and bear fruit the first year, after which it would be good for nothing. Cut off such and place a hit of wax over the end to keep it from drying up. A horizontal view of the completed cleft graft is seen In Fig, 5 and a view in perspective at Fig. 6.

The important points to secure success are 1, a clean smooth cut Upon the scion; 2. the perfect union of the two inner barks; 3, rapid work, that tho cut parts may not long be exposed to the air. The only tools necessary besides the grafting hook, are a fine-toothed saw to cut off the stock, a

sharp knife to smooth the cut and fit the scions and a small mallet. A little tallow used occasionally will prevent the wax from sticking to the operator’s fingers. In crown-grafting no cleft is made across the stump. A small stiletto or bodkin is generally inserted between the bark and the sap-wood of the tree and when it is withdrawn the scion is pushed down in its place. The scion is cut very thin and sloping, the cut beginning opposite a bud where a shoulder is left to allow it to rest more firmly upon the stock. * It Is not profitable to graft very large branches, as.it takes too long for the wounds to heal over, and too much of the tree ought not to be cut away at one time. The cuts should be kept waxed over for a year or two and all suckers removed. Crowngrafting may be done later in the 1 season, when the bark might be stripped from the stock by the other method. A ndther advantage Is that no wound is made across the stock, as in cleft-grafting.

FIG. 1.

FIG. 2.

FIG 3

FIG . 4.

FIG . 5.