REPORTS FROM LOCAL SOCIETIES. 12 



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have seen grafts unite so nicely with the stock, that, within eight or ten years 

 afterwards itwas impossible to tell where the splice was made. 



Bark grafting is thought by many, to he preferable for large limbs, as it 



obviates, in a measure, the difficulty of joint decaying. Others object, on the 

 ground of the strength not being sufficient, where there is a rapid growth for 

 the first two or three years. Frequently scions may be made to grow quite 

 thrifty in old tough trees by this last process, when it would be almost impossi- 

 ble to split the limbs and have the grafts do well. 



Whip grafting is mainly used by nurserymen where the scion and stock or root 

 are nearly the same size — a very perfect way of making the union when nicely 

 done. 



Another modification practiced to some extent by dealers in small fruit trees 

 and shrubs is "saddle grafting." This was practiced extensively by the 

 ancients, but is gradually giving place to the whip or tongue process. 



Farmers can increase any kind of favorite peach or cherry trees that they 

 have, with very little trouble. Drop some pits in an exposed place, cov3ring 

 lightly with dirt. In two or three years, or as soon as the tree is of sufficient 

 size, make an incision lengthwise of the bark, two or three inches in 

 length, with a short cross cut at the top. Shave off a bud of the present year's 

 growth, leaving on some bark with a little wood directly underneath the bud. 

 The edges of the bark at the incision, are then raised a little, and the bud 

 pushed downward under the bark. A bandage is then wrapped around, cover- 

 ing all parts but the bud. Budding may be done any time during the summer, 

 after the buds are properly matured. 



Trees that have been entirely girdled by mice or other animals, may be pre- 

 served by taking some twigs from the tree, inserting one end in the bark above 

 the injured portion, the other below. This allows the sap to circulate from the 

 root to the top. Of course the more of these connections there are, the sooner 

 the girdled portion will bo healed. 



Trees having several branches from the main stem, nearly the same distance 

 from the ground, when heavily loaded with fruit, arc quite apt to split or check 

 down the trunk. The difficulty can be obviated by taking a slip cut from the 

 tree, inserting one end into the bark of the weak limb, the other into the bark 

 of the main stem, or some other strong branch ; or, by grafting the end of a 

 small limb growing on the weak one into some larger one on the opposite side 

 of the tree. 



Apple and pear trees can be grafted from the time wax will work until the 

 blossoms drop, which takes place in this State, generally, about the last of May 

 or first of June. It is thought by many experienced grafters that from the 

 first until the middle of May is as suitable a time as apple scions can be set. 



Cherry grafting is much more difficult and should be done very early, if pos- 

 sible while frost still remains in the ground, and bofore the buds begin to swell. 



The cultivated varieties of cherries consist of two distinct classes. The maz- 

 zards, hearts, and common black cherry belong to the first class, and are char- 

 acterized by their tall, rapid upright growth. The second class includes the 

 Dukes, Morello, and common red sort. These are more hardy in this section, 

 but not as large or fine flavored as some of the first named varieties. The 

 common black cherry is preferable as stock for budding or grafting; in fact, 

 the large, sweet kinds are usually a failure on the sour or red stock as the 

 nature of two varieties is so unlike. 



"We find a universal law in plant as well as in animal life, that species which 



