Grafting 



3S1 ) 



Grafting 



GRAFTING. 



There are many recognised forms of grafting, 

 the commonest being (1) tongue or whip, (2) 

 wedge, (3) cleft, (4) crown or rind, (5) notch, (t>) 

 laddie, 



Time of Grafting. -The actual time of carrying 

 out the work is governed by the locality and the 

 season. When the buds of tree.s are seen to be 

 swelling freely in spring, the time for grafting has 

 arrived. 



Preparing for Grafting. Preparations for 

 grafting must be made sjme time beforehand, as 

 with most subjects it is inadvisable to head back 

 the stock when the movement of sap is becoming 

 active. Cut back to within a short distance 

 of the point at which union is to be made, in 

 February, but not when the weather is frosty. 

 The grafts or scions should be of the previous 

 season's wood, well ripened and well furnished 

 with growth buds. The}' are usually secured 

 during the first two months of the year when the 

 weather is not frosty, and are then laid in beneath 

 a hedge or north wall, where they will continue 

 plump, but will not be excited into growth. Success 

 in grafting largely depends on having the sap 

 moving freely in the stock while that of the graft 

 (" scion '') is dormant at the moment of insertion. 

 All the tools required, such as the pruning saw, 

 knives, tying material, wooden mallet, chisel, and 

 a hard wood wedge, should be prepared ready for 

 immediate use. The knives used should be very 

 sharp, so that the wounds may be clean. 



Forming a Union. The) crucial point in the 

 actual operation is to ensure the union of the 

 cambium layer, or ring of growing tissue, of 

 both stock and scion. A union on one side is 

 absolutely essential. This having been effected, 

 the tying and claying, or waxing, remain. The 

 clay should be in a very pliable state, so as 

 to be thoroughly worked all over and round the 

 union, for the complete exclusion of air. In the 

 use of wax the material is painted on with a 

 brush, a thin coating being sufficient. In either 

 case should cracks appear they should be promptly 

 filled, so that air may not reach the junction until 

 the union is complete. 



Tongue or Whip Grafting. For working young 

 stocks this is the most useful method. The tops 

 should be removed from the stocks in a row, then 

 the scion prepared by making a long, slanting cut, 

 which removes the basal portion and leaves five 

 buds. Next make an upward cut in the stock 

 to correspond with that on the scion. Make a 

 slanting cut downwards and inwards in the stock 

 and then with a second cut take out a very .small 

 wedge. On the scion make two corresponding cuts, 

 measuring to make sure that the size of the stock 

 is reproduced in the scion. Trim carefully if 

 necessary to favour a perfect fit. The scion should 

 then be inserted, making absolutely certain of a 

 union of the inner bar'.; on at least one side, and 

 tie in very firmly. The binding should commence 

 in the middle, pass downwards, and then upwards 

 to finish at the top. Waxing or claying can then 

 be done, and the work will be complete. The 

 number of buds retained on the graft should not 

 exceed four, and if the graft be weak two or three 

 will be better. This method is usually employed 

 for filling up blanks in trained trees. 



Wedge Grafting. For wedge graft ing. stuck and 

 scion should be about of one size. The graft is cut 



so as to form a long wedge at the basal end. and a 

 piece to correspond is cut from the stock. 1'utting 

 in position, tying and claying, follow. 



Saddle Grafting. The stock is cut to form a 

 wedge, and a wedge-shaped piece is taken out of 

 the scion, thus exactly reversing the processes of 

 wedge grafting. 



Cleft Grafting. The old stocks are split across 

 with the chisel ; the part is held open with the 

 hard wood wedge ; the scions are sliced down and 

 inserted. They must be carefully placed in posi- 

 tion, and the wedge removed. Care must be taken 

 to ensure the union of the inner barks. The tying 

 and waxing are the same as in the previous 

 processes. 



Crown Grafting. The scion is cut the same as 

 in the initial stage of whip grafting, but the heel 

 at the upper part is larger. A slit is cut down the 

 bark of the stock, anil a bone pressed down to raise 

 the bark and form a cavity for the reception of the 

 scion, which is inserted and made firm in the 

 ordinary way. 



Notch Grafting. A wedge-shaped piece is cut 

 out of the stock, and the scion is cut to fit. Par- 

 ticular care must be taken to secure equal cuts, or 

 it will be found impossible to effect a proper 

 union. 



Grafting Clay. This is used where a quantity of 

 grafts have to be inserted upon the stumps of old 

 trees that have been headed down. The dis- 

 advantage lies in the liability to cracking, which 

 must be watclie.l for and guarded against. It is 

 commonly made up with adhesive loam and fresh 

 cow manure in about equal portions, the whole 

 being worked until they are thoroughly incor- 

 porated. IE preferred, horse droppings rubbed 

 through a sievp, or chopped hay, may be added. 

 The material should have the consistency of soft 

 soap. 



Grafting Wax. This is greatly in favour with 

 many gratters. If only a small quantity is re- 

 quired, it is best to procure a tin of the French 



Cuow.v GKAITIM;. 



A, ]>ortion of stock : a. head cut smoothly ; fa. hark : 

 c, wood : d, slit through bark ; e. scion ; /, scion 

 inserted; g. opening ready for second sriun. 

 D : n, stock "; o, clay ; p, scions. 



preparation known as mastic L'homme Lefort, It 

 is reliable ami easily procured. If larger quantities 

 are wanted, it can be made up without much 

 trouble. 



A Wax, to be vncil irnrm. -I'esin. eight parts: 

 tallow, three parts : liurgundy pitch, .me part ; and 

 red ochre, three parts. Melt (lie resin in an iron 

 pot, add the tullow and then the ochre. 



