rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY — HINTS ON GRAFTING. 



81 



CONDL-CTKI) BY JOSEPH FROST. 

 POMOLOGICAI SOCIETY OF WESTERN .NEW YOKK. 



TuK foriiuition of a Pomological Society in Wes- 

 erii Now Yoik, to include tlaat portion of the State, 

 vestwanl of Syracuse, lias been discussed. The 

 bjects of this Society are to ascertain from practi- 

 •al experience, the relative value of varieties of fruits 

 n this part of the State, to find out and liring into 

 lOtice many valual)le seedling sorts, which are now 

 mknow'n. Also to obtain the peculiar characteristics 

 )f each fruit, that they may be classified under diSijr- 

 nt heads, viz.: Tho.sc worthy of general cultiva- 

 don, for profitable orchard culture, and those best 

 .dapted for an orchard garden, and others which may 

 lot be embraced under such heads, to be discard- 

 id as unworthy of further cultivation ; in fact, it 

 s to ehcit the most reliable information upon all sub- 

 ects intimately connected with pomology. 



We think highly of it, and almost wonder that a 

 'Society having this for its object was not formed be- 

 ore. Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and Michigan, have thtirg. 

 ind much benefit has already been received from 

 .hem, although in their infancy. 



The reputation of Western New York for its fer- 

 ;il)t3' of soil, its extensive orchards of the finest fruit, 

 jxtends throughout the Union. It is admitted that 

 ao section grows the various kinds of fruits with such 

 iBCcess as here. No section presents such a fruitful 

 aeld from which valuable information may be derived 

 ds this, and it it believed that there are enough prac- 

 tical and energetic men to effect it 



The preliminaries are yet to be arranged, but if it 

 is conducted with liberality, and with an earnest re- 

 gard and attention to the desired object by its most 

 active members, it must succeed. Then the reputa- 

 tion of Western New York for its superior fruits, will 

 be maintained, and much desired information that 

 will be of the greatest value to those interested in 

 the cultivation of fruit will be obtained. 



HINTS ON GHAFTINO. 



Much is written in every horticultural journal 

 upon grafting, and each treatise of fruits gives all 

 the information desired, numerously illustrated with 

 cuts. Yet a lamentable ignorance e.xists among far- 

 mers and many fruit culturista upon the subject. 



It is not our intention to give the mode of the 

 operation, but to say when it should be performed. 



and the stocks applicable to each kind. Any work 

 on horticulture may inform sufficiently a novice who 

 possesses an average amount of skill and care, so 

 that he may be able to graft successfully. 



The first step to be taken is to obtain scions of 

 those varieties which are desired; they can be cut 

 from bearing trees, or from young plants, if genuine, 

 between which there can be no choice, only that the 

 shoots should be well ripened. They may be cut 

 during March or April, or at any time the buds com- 

 mence to swell, indicating the approach of spring. 

 They may be kept till wanted in a moist cellar, partly 

 imbedded in sand. 



There are only two forms practiced in ordinary 

 grafting, viz.: Stock grafting, and whip or tongue 

 grafting. The former is adopted for large trees, where 

 the stock is more than three-fourths of an inch in 

 diameter. The latter is applicable only to seedling 

 stocks, and small trees. The stock and scion ought 

 to be about the same size, that the cut may unite on 

 both sides; but it is nearly as well if the point of 

 union be only on one side, when a stock, two or even 

 three times the diameter of the scion, may be work- 

 ed in this manner. 



The season for grafting is during March and April 

 and in some localities it may be deferred till May. 

 As a general rule, however, it should be done as the 

 buds begin to swell, and several days before they will 

 expand. The cherry is one of the first trees that 

 shows the approach of spring, and therefore should 

 be grafted first — then plums, pears and apples. 



When scions are kept fresh and in good condition 

 we have had considerable success resultisg from 

 grafting trees when in leaf or in bloom. This may be 

 accomplished sometimes with such easy growing sorts 

 as apples and pears, and often with plums, but with 

 cherries never. The composition for grafting is about 

 equal parts of beeswax and tallow, and double the 

 quantity of rosin, into which, when melted, dip narrow 

 strips of cotton cloth or calico. 



As a general rule scions should be grafted upon 

 their ownnkind, as apples upon apples, pears upon 

 pears, except when some specific object is wished to 

 be obtained. All experiments in grafting the pear 

 upon apple trees, on the mountain ash, on the orange 

 quince which grows so freely in our gardens, will 

 fail, giving the cultivator no reward for his 

 pains. The apricot upon the plum stock is an excep- 

 tion, which however, can not be successfully grafteol, 

 unless a piece of old wood, say three-fourths of ta 

 inch, is attached to the scion. 



