GRAFTING 95 



growing tree, as the Tolman Sweet. (6) Grafting is a means 

 of hastening fruitfulness. It has been demonstrated that 

 cions placed in old and mature trees will bear earlier than 

 if they are placed in young growing trees. (7) Grafting in 

 some cases will modify the color of the foliage, the fruit 

 and the flowers of certain plants. (8) Grafting increases the 

 size of certain fruits, as, for example, the fruit of a few 

 varieties of pears is larger when grafted on the quince than 

 when grown on the standard trees. 



Cion. — A cion is a twig taken from a tree which is to be 

 used for grafting. The size is determined by the method 

 of grafting, and by the quantity of available grafting wood. 

 Cions vary in size from one bud to six or seven buds and in 

 some cases even more. The latest work on grafting, however, 

 would indicate that the number of buds should be either 

 three or four. Taking this number of buds as a basis, the 

 length of the cion would vary from three to five inches. 



The cions can be collected any time in the fall after the 

 leaves have fallen, or in the spring. It is thought better, 

 however, either to cut them from the tree before they have 

 frozen, or to wait until they have thoroughly thawed out. 

 It is sometimes injurious to cut the cions from the trees while 

 they are frozen. In case the cions are not used for root 

 grafting, and have to be held over winter they must be care- 

 fully stored in a cellar. The best way to do this is to cut the 

 cions from the varieties selected, tie them in bundles, label 

 each bundle carefully and cover them with damp sand or 

 sawdust, then place them in a cool cellar. The temperature 

 must be low enough so the buds will not start into growth. 

 About 35° F. is a good temperature to maintain in storing 

 the cions. The cions should not be permitted to freeze or 

 to dry out while in storage. 



The cions should always be cut from healthy mature trees. 

 Only the best twigs from the current season's growth should 

 be selected. Wood that is two years old is occasionally used 

 but never recommended, where the best results are desired. 

 While the two-year-old wood will occasionally grow it will 

 never produce as good plants as the younger wood. Occa- 

 sionally, well-matured water sprouts are used, but this kind 



