258 



VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION 



graft. During the process of 

 uniting, the two stems must be 

 closely bound to prevent them 

 from breaking apart. A coat of 

 grafting wax protects the region 

 of contact from an excessive loss 

 of sap and evaporation of water, 

 and from contact with spores of 

 fungi. Successful grafting is ac- 

 complished only between mem- 

 bers of the same or closely 

 related species. Stem grafting is 

 commonly used in propagating 

 fruit trees. 



Grafting is, also, done by 

 means of buds. A bud on a strip 

 of bark with its underlying cam- 

 bium layer is cut from a branch 

 and is inserted into the slit in the bark of the stock so that the two 

 cambium tissues are in close contact. The process of binding and 

 waxing is similar to that used in stem grafts. Fruits, nuts, and 

 flowers are obtained more rapidly by grafting than by the plant- 

 ing of seeds. The graft will probably always breed true to the 

 scion type. Consequently, 

 as in the case of propaga- 

 tion by cuttings, a horticul- 

 turist is sure of the result of 

 the graft, if it is successful. 

 Grafting is also a method of 

 propagating seedless fruits. 

 If a seedless fruit has been 



Shield budding is a type of grafting. The bud of 



produced by plant breeding, the desired variety is inserted into a slit in the bark 

 , of the stock. It is then bound tightly to keep in 



it IS propagated Vegeta- place until healing and growth take place. 



cleft grafting 



Twigs may be grafted together in 

 various ways. 



