68 



Fruit and Fruit Trees. 



Vol. IL 



of its own kind, or on the peacli or nectarine, 

 but not of so quick growth. The peach and 

 nectarine may also be propagated on the 

 pluin, but will outgrow the stock, unless a 

 plum stock be used growing equally or near- 

 ly as fast. Trees of the common small 

 black, and red cherry, make excellent and 

 perhaps the most durable stock for cherries of 

 all kinds. The quince and the pear may be 

 grafted on a thorn stock, &c. 



GRAFTING. 



Scions for grafts may be cut at any time 

 in winter, and even late in the fall. 'J"he 

 proper time is m February or March, before 

 or at the time tiie buds begin to swell or 

 vegetate; buds, in this respect, are like ker- 

 nels of grain, if disturbed when they svvell 

 and sprout, they become of slender and sick- 

 ly growth, and rarely recover tiieir natural 

 vigor. Cut for grafts shoots of the last 

 spring's growth, with a littleof the two year's 

 old wood. Take your grafts from fruitful 

 trees, bearing good fruit of the kind : that is, 

 if from a pippin tree, let it be from sucii as 

 bear the best of pippms. The best grafts are 

 those about the size of a pipe stem, taken 

 from bearing branches, and not of side shoots 

 or suckers, nor of the rank growth of tlie top 

 of trees ; these are apt to continue their rank 

 growth, and outgrow the stock, and are not 

 so soon in bearing,- nor so fruitful; if too 

 slender they will not be thrifty, nor take 

 well. Tie up the grafts of each kind by 

 themselves, with some- distinguishing mark; 

 put them in a cellar or out iiouse, to keep 

 them from being saturated, dried up, or frost 

 bitten; set in a box of eaith one-third their 

 length, the earth kept moderately n'oist by 

 occasional sprinkling, to keep tliem plump 

 and prevent their shrivelling, but not so wet 

 as to cause them to sprout. 



Scions may be used for grafting, fresh ga- 

 thered, at any time during the season of 

 grafting before the buds open to leaf; early 

 gathered grafts will, however, take more 

 readily. 



Take 8 ounces of pure^ transparent rosin, 

 free from sediment, about 2 or 3 ounces of| 

 bees wax, and lard of half the size of a hen's 

 egg, melt them over coals or a slow fire, 

 stirring the composition with a stick ; after 

 thoroughly mixed and melted, empty it into 

 a pail of cold water, rub some lard over your 

 hands to prevent its sticking to them, and 

 work it together thoroughly, as shoemakers 

 do their wax. If tiie composition is too hard 

 and does not work freely when making or 

 while using it in grafting, rub over it more 

 lard and work it in as before; if too soft add 

 rosin, and so on until it becomes suitable for 

 use. 



CLEFT GRAFTING. 



Cut down all diseased and stunted trees, 

 and graft those only which are healthy and 

 thrifty, of not exceeding 6 or 8 inches in 

 diameter, in some of the leading, best placed 

 and thriftiest branches on the tree, with a 

 view to changing the whole top. Trees of a 

 large size may be grafted, and partially, and 

 in some cases wholly changed, but not gene- 

 rally, without a great deal of labor and at- 

 tention. Saw off the branches for stocks to, 

 graft on, at smooth places where they split 

 well, and are in diameter of from 1 to2inches, 

 prune the tree sufficiently to give room and 

 air to the grafts, and gradually to force the 

 juices of the whole tree into the grafts. Con- 

 tinue pruning each tree yearly, at any leisure 

 time in the winter or spring, giving sun and 

 air, and making room for the grafts as they 

 grow, in such manner that if the grafts are 

 of vigorous growth, in the third season to 

 have cut out all except the grafts, and formed 

 a new top. When limbs are taken off in 

 pruning, it should be done with a saw or 

 chisel, not an axe, and if large limbs a coat 

 of tar, paint or the composition mentioned, 

 put over th6 wound. 



Having the stocks prepared as above, and 

 being furnished with grafts and the composi- 

 tion, with a case knife or other convenient 

 instrument and hammer, split the stock in 

 the middle, drive in a wedge of hard wood or 

 iron of 6 or 8 inches in length, and open the 

 split so as to admit the graft freely, prepare 

 the grafts, either all for the same tree, or one 

 by one as used, by paring off about an inch' 

 and a quarter of the end of the graft or scion 

 to the shape of a wedge, leave that side of 

 the graft which is to be put towards the cen- 

 tre of the stock oi equal thickness with that 

 part which is to be towards the outside of the 

 stock, wilh a view that the pressure of the 

 [stock, when closing upon the graft, be on the 

 inside and not on the outside of tiie graft, 

 I where it is intended to unite with the stock: 

 :the outside if a little open, will facilitate the 

 I communication of the sap from the stock to 

 the graft; but if closed up tight, may prevent 

 such communication and endanger the graft; 

 insert the graft as far as cut in wedge form, 

 matching the wood of graft and wood of the 

 stock without regard to the outside or surface 

 of the bark on either; take out the wedge 

 with sufficient care not to disturb or displace 

 the graft. To stocks a little over an inch in 

 diameter, one graft is sufficient, if larger, 

 two are necessary, leaving on every graft 

 from two to four buds. Finish the work by 

 covering the crown of the stocks and the 

 splits on each side, whether containing a 

 graft or not, with the composition about the 

 thickness of wrapping paper, by drawing it 



