404 



The Journal of Heredity 



other, but with the sharp end of the 

 wedge about the middle of the diameter 

 of the stick. The graft selected should 

 have two or more good buds above the 

 tapered portion. The cuts made should 

 be smooth and continuous, which re- 

 quires a strong sharp knife and a 

 steady hand. 



The next step is to measure off and 

 mark the width of the graft on the 

 cross cut on the small shelf just de- 

 scribed. With a knife or chisel, two 

 vertical parallel cuts are then made 

 downward from the cross cut just deep 

 enough to go through the bark, the 

 cuts being made about as long as the 

 tapered end of the graft. Care should 

 be taken that these cuts are only just 

 wide enough apart to allow the graft to 

 slip into place (Figure 7). 



The tongue of bark lying between 

 these cuts is then gently lifted (Figure 

 8), using a bone or chisel of appro- 

 priate width. 



The prepared graft is then gently 

 but firmly inserted in the "slot" thus 

 prepared — placing the long cut of the 

 tapered end next to the wood of the 

 branch or trunk of the tree. When 

 pushed down to a good fit, the raised 

 tongue of bark is held firmly against 

 the inserted graft and a fine brad (No. 

 18 gauge) is driven through the bark 

 and graft into the solid wood. This 

 brad is placed near the upper end of 

 the tongue of bark (Figure 11). Melted 

 parafftn is then applied with a fine 

 brush so as to cover all exposed sur- 

 faces and fill every crevice, at the same 

 time applying a light coating over the 

 entire surface of the graft itself. The 

 job is done. If a good contact is 

 secured and stock and scion are reason- 

 ably well chosen, the only further atten- 

 tion needed is the cutting back or 

 girdling of the top to force the scion 

 into growth after a good union is 

 ai)parent. 



When ants or bees are active the 

 paraffin covering may need renewing 

 before the union is entirelv safe. If 

 exposed to hot sunlight, shading mav 

 be necessary. Brads of three-(|uarter 

 inch length are usually about right, al- 



though several sizes may be carried 

 along for different sized grafts. The 

 new growth starting from the graft 

 should be tied up securely to appro- 

 priately placed supports. 



One accessory invented by Dr. 

 Morris has made this method really 

 practical for the orchardist, namely, the 

 "Merribook Melter." As shown in 

 the photograph (Figure 6),, this paraf- 

 fin melter simply is a lantern with a 

 cup set in the top to hold the paraffin. 

 An alcohol burner is used in the base, 

 having a small wick that can be turned 

 down to mere point of flame, thus ren- 

 dering it easy to keep the paraffin in a 

 melted condition, but not too hot. The 

 lantern can be hung in the branches of 

 a tree or set on the ground without 

 danger of upsetting. Any of the com- 

 mon paraffins used in preserving, as 

 "Para wax," "Gulf wax," have a suffi- 

 ciently low melting point to be suitable 

 for covering grafts. Paraffin being 

 translucent, allows the chlorophyll in 

 the bark of the graft to continue func- 

 tioning and may assist in bringing 

 about a prompt union between stock 

 and scion. Adding three to five per 

 cent of Carnuba wax to the paraffin 

 causes it to flake off when growth 

 starts, and prevents sun scalding. 



As in all successful grafting opera- 

 tions, good workmanship is essential, 

 but with average care the paraffin 

 method will give results considerably in 

 advance of the older methods and can 

 be learned by novices with little diffi- 

 culty. 



The topworking of old fruit trees 

 has always oft"ered somewhat of a 

 problem, particularly as to choice of 

 method. Practically all methods, how- 

 ever, involve severe cutting back as a 

 preliminary step, with resulting shock 

 and loss of crop and possible failure 

 of buds or grafts even after such heroic 

 treatment. Some method that permits 

 the retention of the to]D until after the 

 new graft has taken and started 

 growth has obvious advantages. The 

 wider use of the method should facili- 

 tate the reworking of inferior fruit 

 trees to better sorts. 



