246 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



space is to be economized or where quality is desired regard- 

 less of quantity. It is used in some special cases to adapt 

 a tree to growth on certain soil, as, for instance, the peach 

 grafted on a plum root will grow better on clay soil than if 

 growing on its own roots. The process of grafting is lim- 

 ited to varieties of the same or similar species, and in a few 

 cases to different genera. Thus the peach would not be 

 grafted to an apple, or vice-versa. Of course it goes without 

 saying that only healthy trees or plants should be used in 

 grafting. 



To obtain success in grafting it is necessary that the work 

 be done carefully and thoroughly. Few tools are necessary 

 for the work, a sharp knife of approved form being sufficient 

 for most light wood. In working on larger wood the knife 

 is supplemented by a saw and sometimes by grafting chisels. 

 The principal thing is to secure a perfect union of the grow- 

 ing parts of stock and scion, and then to cover the union 

 carefully so as to keep air and moisture away from the graft. 

 For this purpose grafting wax is commonly used. This is 

 usually made by putting in a kettle four parts by weight of 

 rosin, two parts beeswax and one part tallow. These are 

 boiled one-half hour, or until the rosin is well dissolved. The 

 mixture is then thrown into cold water and pulled like molas- 

 ses candy as soon as it can be handled. 



The scions used in grafting are usually cut late in the 

 fall from one year old wood. They are then labelled care- 

 fully and packed in sawdust or sphagnum moss to keep them 

 moist, and stored over winter in a place where the tempera- 

 ture is even and preferablv not lower than freezing. They 

 are not hurt by freezing, but repeated freezing and thawing 

 will weaken the vitality of the scions. 



Grafting is divided into three branches, dependent on the 

 methods used. These are bud grafting, scion grafting, and 

 inarching. The first two are the ones most generally used 

 bv the horticulturist, inarching being used only in special 

 cases where it would not be safe to use the bud or scion 

 methods. 



Some of the most common methods of scion grafting, 

 according to the manner in which the stock and scion are 



