GRAFTING 



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GRAFTING 



Bud Grafting, or budding, consists in apply- 

 ing a single bud to the cambium layer of the 

 stock. It is a form of graftage that is em- 

 ployed in the culture of nearly all young fruit 

 trees and of roses and many ornamental trees. 



(a) Cutting the bud ; (b) preparing the stock ; 

 (c) the bud tied. 



It is performed most successfully in dry, clear 

 weather and when the bark peels easily. The 

 transferred part, which includes a healthy bud 

 from a twig of the current season's growth, a 

 portion of bark, and a bit of wood beneath the 

 bud, is secured by placing the thumb beneath 

 the bud and cutting a shield-shaped section out 

 of the bark (see Fig. 1, a). The entire severed 

 portion is technically known as the bud. A 

 part of the stalk of each leaf is usually left on 

 the bark to serve as a handle in inserting the 

 bud. Some nurserymen remove the attached 

 wood, but buds appear to thrive equally well 

 whether the wood is cut off or retained. Two 

 incisions are made in the bark of the stock, 

 one vertical and one crosswise; the latter is 

 made across the top of the vertical cut, form- 

 ing a T-shaped wound (Fig. 1, b). The work- 

 man then inserts the bud into the cleft, pushing 

 it down part way with the fingers and com- 

 pleting the operating by striking the leaf-stalk 

 handle with the back of his knife-blade. Usu- 

 ally the bark has to be loosened to permit the 

 bud to enter the cleft. Finally, the wound is 

 closed and bound securely with a soft cord 

 that will yield a little as the bud and bark 

 expand (Fig. 1, c). 



Cion Grafting, or grafting proper, is the in- 

 sertion of a detached twig, bearing one or 

 more buds, upon the surface of the stock. It 

 is done in a great variety of ways, to which 

 many special names are given. In regard to 

 the place where the grafting is done there are 

 four general methods root, crown, stem and 

 top grafting. Classification according to man- 

 ner of operation gives rise to such terms as 

 cleft, whip, bark, saddle and splice grafting. 



Of these methods the ones most generally used 

 are whip grafting and cleft grafting. 



Whip Grafting, also known as tongue graft- 

 ing, is the favorite method for grafting cions 

 on roots. The stocks are dug up in the fall 

 and stored until January or February, when 

 the grafting is begun. Both the stock and the 

 cion are cut smoothly and diagonally, the cut 

 surface being from one to two inches across. 

 A vertical cleft is then made in each surface. 

 so the two parts will have notches and tongues 

 that exactly fit into each other (Fig. 2, a). 

 Cion and stock are then joined, the tongue of 

 the cion being pushed into the cleft of the 

 stock. The joint is then securely wrapped 

 (Fig. 2, 6). Waxed string x or bands made by 

 spreading melted wax over thin muslin and 

 cutting it into narrow strips when dry, are 

 excellent for this purpose. The grafts are 

 packed away in sand, moss or sawdust in a 

 cool place and left until spring, when they are 

 planted. If the storage place is not above 40 

 in temperature the two parts of the graft will 

 be found firmly knitted together by planting 



Fig. 2 



(a) Cion; (b) root graft ; (c) growing root graft. 



time, and in good condition. Grafts stored in 

 warm, close cellars are liable to rot. 



The length of cion and stock varies, but in 

 severe climates it has been found advisable to 

 use a cion from eight inches to a foot long 

 and to graft it on a short root. The graft is 

 placed in the soil in such a way that only the 

 topmost bud is left exposed, and as the plant 

 grows roots are sent out from the cion. The 

 tree thus becomes "own rooted," and is thought 

 to be hardier than one which obtains its nour- 

 ishment only from the roots of a stock. Fig 2, 

 c, shows a cion which has sent out roots. 



