TOP-WORKING OF FRUIT TREES 



65 



as shown in the figure. Push the pieces together firmly. If the 

 root and scion are of the same size the cambium layers just be- 

 neath the bark will be in contact. This 

 is essential to future union. The graft 

 is now ready to be tied. This is usually 

 done with moist raffia fiber or with No. 

 18 knitting cotton which has been dipped 

 in melted grafting wax. The scions used 

 for this purpose should be very thrifty 

 twigs, and should bear from one to sev- 

 eral buds each. The roots are usually 

 cut into pieces varying in length from 

 four to six inches. Some nurseries pre- 

 fer to have the entire seedling root used. 

 Such grafts are then called " whole-root" 

 in distinction with " piece-root" grafts. 



As the grafts are made they are kept 

 moist and tied in bunches of from 25 to 

 100, with a label for each. These are 

 stored in moist sawdust or sand and are 

 held until spring. About corn-planting 

 time they are set in nursery rows (Fig. 

 57) from six to twelve inches apart. The 

 distance between rows should allow of 

 cultivation and is usually from three to 

 four feet, depending upon the soil. The 

 depth should be such as to leave one or 

 more buds exposed to the air. The 

 ground should be pressed firmly about the 

 graft to cause it to produce fibrous roots 

 immediately. The young trees should be 

 well cultivated the first season, and care 

 given to the removal of any sprouts as- 

 cending from the roots below the point 

 of union. After one or two years the 

 young trees may be transplanted to the FIG. 56. Apples are com- 



rrnVmrrl monly propagated by root 



grafting. The twig (scion), the 



Top-Working of Fruit Trees is a more root (stock) aie shown slipped 



together and ready to tie with 



common practice than formerly, There waxed cotton. 

 are several reasons for top- working. (1) The tree may be in bearing 

 and the fruit be of an undesirable kind, either because the trees 

 5 



