How Trees are Multiplied 



Split, SO that there may be two chances for it to "stick" fas<- 

 and grow, instead of one. Each cion is a bit of a twig, bearing 

 two or three buds, and sharpened by two slanting cuts to fit 

 the cleft stub. When set, there should be a bud on a level with 

 the top of the stub. It should be held tight between the lips 

 of the cleft, by the "spring" of the two sides (the tooth being 

 removed now), and the green cambium of cion and stock should 

 pinch. Now grafting wax is moulded about the graft and the 

 work is complete. 



The best time to graft is just before the buds swell in the 

 spring. If all is well, leaves will shoot upon the cions as April 

 comes on; if one fails, no matter. By grafting one-third of the 

 limbs each year for three years the whole treetop can be changed 

 from one variety to another. Several varieties may be grafted 

 on one tree. 



Budding is usually done in summer or early fall. Shield 

 budding is the common nursery method. A T-shaped cut through 

 the bark of the slender whip is made on the north side just above 

 the ground. A twist of the knife loosens the four corners of the 

 bark. An oval bit of bark with a bud in its centre is cut from a 

 twig of the desired variety; a leaf stem serves as a convenient 

 handle. The disc of bark bearing the bud is slipped down under 

 the thin flaps of bark on the stock. They hold the bud in place 

 against the cambium of the stock. A wrapping of raffia protects 

 and binds the wound. It is cut as soon as the bud "sticks," or 

 it would impede the growth. The stem above is cut off, so that 

 the treetop formed later may be the outgrowth of this bud. 

 Budding is usually done upon seedlings of one season's growth, 

 and is ordinarily intrusted to an expert, with a helper to tie the 

 buds he sets. A record of three thousand buds a day is not un- 

 usual. 



Weeping forms are propagated by grafting cions from weep- 

 ing trees u]X)n erect stocks. The popular notion that they are 

 produced by inserting the buds upside down is entirely false. 

 Horticultural varieties are all grafted, e. g., cut-leaved, variegated, 

 pyramidal and double-flowered varieties of standard species. 

 These peculiarities are originally discovered as seedling varia- 

 tions in the nursery rows or "freak" branches on normal trees. 

 A good character is hoarded, emphasised and multiplied; then 

 exploited as a new variety. It would not come true from seed, 



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