338 



Journal oj Agriculture, Victoria. [lo May, 1911. 



PROPAGATIOiN OF FlUHT TKEEH. 



C. F. Cole, Inspector, Vegetation Diseases Acts. 



To meet the demand for information concerning the propagation of 

 the various edible fruits which flourish in the different parts of this State, 

 a series of articles has been prepared by the writer and will appear in this 

 and succeeding issues of the ] oiirnal. 



Up to the time of my appointment under the Department of Agricul- 

 ture, I devoted my attention principallv to the propagation and cultivation 



I. GRAFTING KNIFE. 



of fruits and other products suitable to Victorian soils and climate. Dur- 

 ing this period, I tested most, if not all. of the propagation methods 

 practised here. Therefore. I can confidently offer the following hints and 

 methods with the hope that they will prove useful to those who have so 

 far met with little success, owing to want of more practical knowledge; 

 also to those not yet con\ersant with the methods practised for the raising 

 of fruit trees upon sound lines. 



Grafting and Budding. 



A very brief explanation will show why grafting and budding are 

 p.ecessary. None of our choice varieties of fruits come true to the parent 



2. BUDDING knives. 



from seed ; and very few of those that can be raised from cuttings or 

 layers are suitable. Therefore, having raised a new and choice variety 

 from seed, or otherwise — and having only the one tree or bough — the 

 question arises how to propagate and increase such a variety, at the same 

 time keeping it true to the parent or sport, so that it may be cultivated 

 extensively or otherwise, if necessary. To increase such a variety, the art 

 of grafting and budding mu.st be resorted to. It must also be utilized to 

 render certain varieties more hardy, or less rol)ust. by working upon stocks 



