-9- 



Care of Scions After Grafting 



Inspect repaired trees periodically after grafting and recoat 

 with grafting compound any areas where cracking has occurred. 

 This phase in the process of bridge grafting and inarching is most 

 apt to be neglected. Thus, the following procedure should increase 

 the reliability of coverage. Place masking tape over the graft- 

 ing compound- coated areas (where the scions or top of the inarch 

 tree meet the stock of the girdled tree). Then, coat the masking 

 tape with grafting compound. 



The scions used for bridge grafting and the trees used for 

 inarching must be kept from producing shoots. As buds on the scions 

 swell, rub them off. When inarching, let 1 bud develop into a 

 shoot, preferably the bud nearest to the graft. When you are sure 

 the graft has "taken", it should be removed. 



General Considerations 



1. As soon as the injury is discovered, it may be possible to 

 save some of the cambium layer cells (where new cells are pro- 

 duced in the trunk) by promptly applying the asphalt emulsion 

 or grafting wax to the injured area. 



2. Occasionally suckers are present or arise later from the area 

 below the wounds. Suckers that extend above the wounded surface 

 may be used as "inlay scions" at the top end. 



3. Trees leaf out and often fruit the first season after the bark 

 and cambium layer are destroyed around the tree trunk. How- 

 ever, the vigor of these completely girdled trees varies con- 

 siderably. On some trees the foliage and fruit appear normal, 

 on others, foliage may be light in color but fruit size normal, 

 and on some other girdled trees, the foliage may be light in 

 color and sparse, and the fruit small. 



The reason why completely girdled trees leaf out and often 

 fruit the first season after the bark and cambium layer are des- 

 troyed around the tree trunk is because water and other materials 

 which are taken up by the roots from the soil pass up to the leaves 

 through the wood. In the leaves the water and the carbon dioxide 

 taken from the air by the leaves are united chemically, through the 

 action of sunlight, into sugar. After the manufacture of the plant 

 foods by the leaves, they move to other parts of the tree through 

 the phloem which is found in the bark. When the phloem has been 

 destroyed by girdling, this food cannot move to the roots. Roots 

 will continue to grow and take up water and minerals only as long 

 as their food supply holds out, and the above-ground portion will 

 continue to grow only as long as it continues to receive water and 

 minerals from the roots. Reserve food stored in the roots enable 

 the roots to function for some time, often a year or 2, thus keep- 

 ing the top of the tree alive. However , a completely girdled tree , 

 unless repaired , will eventually die Trom starvation of the roots . 



