Propagation by Grafting. 207 
Whip-grafting is generally used when the stock is little 
if any thicker than the cion. It is much used by nursery- 
men in certain localities, in grafting the apple and some 
other fruits, upon roots (root-grafting) (391). 
Whip-grafting is also considerably used in some climates of 
severe winters, in top-grafting or “ top-working’”’ apple trees 
in the nursery, in order to give certain slightly-tender vari- 
eties the benefit of a specially hardy stock. This grafting 
is performed on two- or three- year-old trees, that have been 
grown from root grafts. The trunk is cut off at the height 
it is desired to form the head of the tree, and a cion of the 
variety it is desired to propagate is inserted; or several 
cions are inserted in as many branches. The latter method, 
while more expensive, has the advantage of giving to the 
top-grafted trees the branch formation of the stock, which 
is sometimes important. 
As growth starts on top-grafted trees, shoots that push 
out from the stock should be rubbed off to prevent them 
from robbing the cions of nourishment. 
391. Root-Grafting is generally performed in winter, 
and in-doors. The stocks are small trees, grown one or two 
years from seed (seedlings). These are dug in autumn, and 
stored as recommended for cions (386). When ready for 
grafting, the roots are washed, and trimmed by cutting off 
the branch roots, after which the stem is cut off at the crown, 
and the distal end of the root is shaped as directed 
above (390). It is then cut off two or three inches down, 
and the remaining root, if sufficiently thick, is shaped for 
another stock. Three or four stocks are sometimes made 
from a single root. Asarule, the stocks should not be less 
than three-sixteenths inch in diameter, nor less than two 
inches long. 
