112 



PRACTICAL PLANT PROPAGATION 



grafts rather than use the string. In order to harden the wax 

 quickly the grafts are dropped in a pail of water. 



Fig. 53. Whip graft- 

 ing on roots. The 

 stock and cion are fre- 

 quently made longer 

 than shown in cut 

 (See page 112) 



ROOT GRAFTING 



The whip or tongue graft is the most common method of root 

 grafting Apples. The stocks are dug and stored in Autumn and 

 grafted in January or February. As this is done indoors, it is often 

 known as bench grafting. Whole roots may be used, the grafting 

 being done upon the crown. 

 Sometimes, however, each 

 root is cut in two pieces, in 

 which case two grafts may 

 be made. The cions are 

 often made longer than in 

 ordinary whip grafting, the 

 object being to have the 

 point of union deep in the 

 soil when the graft is 

 planted, thus producing 

 what is known as "own- 

 rooted" or "cion-rooted" 

 trees. In colder regions 

 orchardists prefer the "cion- 

 rooted" trees, believing that 

 the varieties grown upon 

 them are often hardier. This 

 discussion is continued on 

 the next page. 



The grafts are wrapped 

 with waxed string and 

 packed in bundles in moist 

 sand or sawdust, green 

 sawdust frequently being 

 used. The grafts being 

 made at the nursery, the 

 green sawdust ferments and 

 remains moist enough to 

 cause good unions so that 

 boxes of grafts may be 

 shipped from the East to the growers of trees in the Middle West 

 with perfect confidence that the grafts have callused without 

 the need of examining or repacking in the Spring. The grafts 



