EXERCISE 55 

 GRAFTING 



Object. To study the principal simple methods of grafting. 



Explanation. Grafting is the operation of inserting a 

 small branch or twig (called a cion) into an incision of another 

 branch (called the stock). The cion must bear one or more 

 buds, and its cambium layer must be placed next to the cam- 

 bium layer of the stock so that the wood of the two may 

 unite and grow. The main object of grafting is to propagate 

 plants that do not readily reproduce themselves in desired 

 forms from the seed. There are several methods of grafting. 

 Two important ones are root and top grafting. Root grafting 

 is practiced with apples in starting young trees. The fruit 

 produced from a seedling apple tree is uncertain in kind and 

 value. One-year-old seedlings are used for the root stock. 

 Twigs of the previous summer's growth taken from good 

 apple trees are used for the cions. Top grafting is employed 

 to change the character of fruit of an older tree by replacing 

 the branches of the tree with small twigs of a desirable variety. 



Equipment. 1. Grafting knife. 2. Saw. 



3. Grafting wax. 1 4. Ten one-year-old apple seedlings. 2 



1 Grafting wax may be made by melting together four parts, by 

 weight, of resin, two parts of beeswax, and one part of tallow. When 

 thoroughly melted, pour the mixture into a pail of cold water. After 

 it hardens it should be pulled and worked until it becomes tough. 

 The hands should be greased with tallow when handling grafting wax. 



2 Apple seedlings may be secured from nurseries in lots of one 

 hundred. 



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