46 TREE PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



sugar maple, hackberry, etc., as is done in some parts of Europe where 

 conditions warrant. This method has promise where the soil is moist. 

 The crop the year of the seeding must be a clean one, say of corn or pota- 

 toes, and all the weeds and grass absolutely subdued. The plowing must 

 be deep; well to use a sub-soil plow, and harrow the land till as mellow as 

 an ash heap. Then mix the seeds together promiscuously, sow broadcast, 

 putting on a liberal quantity, and harrow them in. Next spring they will 

 come up thick, but will thin themselves out on the principle of the 

 "fittest." The growth will be comparatively slow, but healthful if the 

 weeds are hoed down during the growing season. In due time you will 

 have one of tbe best and most beautiful forests on the open prairie. This 

 is the cheapest way by far. Try it. 



GRAFTING HOW TO DO IT. 



Grafting to improve the stock of trees is of late commanding the special 

 attention of the friends of forestry. The following rules are applicable to 

 fruit, as well as timber trees: 



" The kind of grafting most likely to be practiced on the farm is that 

 known as cleft-grafting. The process is a simple one. Saw off the limb 

 to be grafted where it is an inch or less in diameter; trim the edges of 

 the 'stub,' smooth and split it with a large knife or a cleaver made for the 

 purpose. The cleft should not be more than four inches deep at the 

 most. A wedge is now inserted in the centre of the cleft and a cion is set 

 on each side of the cleft.. The cions are made of twigs of last year's 

 growth. They should be cut before the trees show any signs of starting in 

 the spring. When the cion is prepared ready for setting, it should contain 

 about three buds. The lower end is cut wedge-shaped by slicing off each 

 side of the cion. On one side of this wedge-shaped portion, midway be- 

 tween its top and bottom, should be left one of the buds. When the cion 

 is set, this bud will be deep down in the side of the cleft in the stub, and 

 will be covered with wax; but, being nearer the source of nourishment, it 

 will be most apt of any buds to grow, and it will readily push through the 

 wax. The cion is set into the cleft by exercising great care that the 

 inner surface of the bark on the cion exactly matches with the inner bark 

 on the stub. A line between the bark and wood may be observed. This 

 line on the cion, in other words, should match the line on the stub. Wax 

 the whole over carefully and thoroughly. Do not leave any crack ex- 

 posed. Grafting wax is made as follows : Melt together resin, beeswax 

 and tallow in equal parts and spread on cotton cloth. Tear into strips 

 and wrap around graft." 



