Propagation by Grafting. 225 



nurserymen in certain localities in grafting the apple 

 and some other fruits upon roots (root-grafting (391)). 



Whip-grafting is also considerably used in some cli- 

 mates of severe winters, in top-grafting or "top-work- 

 ing" apple trees in the nursery, in order to give cer- 

 tain slightly-tender varieties the benefit of a specially 

 hardy stock. This grafting is performed on two or 

 three-year-old trees, that have been grown from root 

 grafts. The trunk is cut off at the height it is desired 

 to form the head of the tree, and a cion of the variety 

 to be propagated is inserted; or several cions are in- 

 serted in as many branches. The latter method, while 

 more expensive, has the advantage of giving to the 

 top-grafted trees the branch formation of the stock, 

 which is sometimes important. 



As growth starts on the top-grafted trees, shoots that- 

 push out from the stock should be rubbed off to pre- 

 vent them from robbing the cions of nourishment. 



391. Root Grafting is generally performed in winter 

 and in-doors. The stocks are small trees, grown one or 

 two years from seed (seedlings). These are dug in au- 

 tumn, and stored as recommended for cions (386). 

 When ready for grafting, the roots are washed and 

 trimmed by cutting off the larger branch roots, after 

 which the stem is cut off at the crown, and the end of 

 the root (115) is shaped as directed above (390). It 

 is then cut off two or three inches down, and the re- 

 maining root, if sufficiently thick, is shaped for another 

 stock. Three or four stocks are sometimes made from 

 a single root. As a rule, the stocks should not be less 

 than three-sixteenths inch in diameter, nor less than 

 two inches long. 



