lo June, 1911-] 



Propagation of Fruit Trees. 



36: 



Root-Insertion (jrafting Method. — Prepare the root and scion the 

 same as in the whip-tongue method, but cut the lower end of the scion 

 at bud. (Fig. iiB.) Upon the r(x>t make two upward cuts, one on each 

 side, in the form of a wedge. (Kig- 11 A.) Then, clo.se to the lower end 

 of the scion, and the opposite side to the bud, pass the blade inwards and 

 upwards, making a cut tiie same length as that upon the root. (Fig. 11 A.) 

 Insert the root, fitting the inner bark of the scion exactly with that of the 

 root, on the one side. (Fig. 1 iC.) Hold the scion in the one hand, and 

 start to tie at the upper end of the cut, working down to the lower. Leave 

 the bud exposed (Fig. iiD), and finish off with two half hitches. (Fig. 

 iiD.) Whilst tying 



under this method, there 

 is a greater risk of the 

 bark becoming .separated 

 than in the whip-tongue 

 method. The writer 



favours insertion if the 

 roots are small. 



The grafts. when 

 finished, should not be 

 allowed to remain dry, 

 but be damped and 

 heeled in light soil in a 

 sheltered position until 

 required for planting out. 

 Roots and cuttings for 

 grafting should be kept 

 heeled in moist soil until 

 required. On no account 

 allow them to lie about 

 and become shrivelled. 

 Such roots or cuttings are 

 useless for grafting. 

 Owing to the Spy carry- 

 ing its foliage late in the 

 the season, it will be 

 necessary to strip oft' any 

 leaves upon the cuttings, 

 i.e., where an early start 

 is being made. Cuttings 

 taken from worked stocks 

 carrying live dormant 

 buds or frcin stools are 

 preFernd. They are not 

 so hard to ( ut as these .secured from old matured trees. 



Root-grafting may be performed during the months of June, July, 

 August, and early September. Fig. 12 shows the cambium wood, which 

 must be placed together with the r(x)t and scinn if the union is to be a 

 success. 



\\'h«'n propagating varieties iniiuune from \\'(X)lly Aphis {Schizoncura 

 lauigera), there is no necessity to doiilile work. Select nice Spy roots, and 

 graft them direct! v (whip-tongui- uK-thod). Hut \aritties subject to attack 

 from tliis pi-st must be worked liy grafting or budding upon resistant stork.? 

 that are sufficientlv high alxn-e gnnmd level to |)revent them from slvxiting 

 their own nxjts into the .soil and bet^oming a blighted nia.ss. 



.■1. K< 



root grafting 



lot 



li. Scion •■ C. R 



reailv for pl.mtinj; 



INSERTION METHOD, 

 t aiir) scion united : I). Houml 



