1871 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



36 



the drill, which may be maile with a common hoe, 

 by drawing it level, leaving the drill the full width 

 of the hoe ; then cover with a rake, removing all 

 the clods. As the seed comes up keep them clean 

 by hand-weeding and hoeing thoroughly through- 

 out the season. In the Fall, in October or after 

 the first hard, killing frost, take the seedlings up 

 with a plough and tie into bundles of several hun- 

 dred each with a willow, and then store in the cel- 

 lar by covering them up with damp sawdust or 

 earth for grafting. 



They may be grafted any time from January 

 until early Spring. For that purpose scions should 

 be cut of the current year's growth, from the out- 

 side branches that were fully exposed to the light 

 and air, of well-matured wood. When but few 

 scions are required, the terminal buds of bearing 

 trees are the best. In Kans;is they may be cut any 

 time except when frozen, from the fall of the leaf 

 until before they start in the Spring, but in more 

 northern latitudes and colder sections they should 

 be cut in October, or after the first hard, killing 

 frost, even with the leaves on and tied up in that 

 condition tight, with two willow ties near each 

 end, in bundles of several hundred each with a 

 long label stuck in from the top, with the name of 

 the variety and number plainly written upon it, 

 with the end but slightly exposed, for easy access 

 and future reference. They should then be packed 

 away in the cellar, all of each variety together with 

 their butt ends covered about eight inches deep in 

 damp sawdust or earth, with their tops upright and 

 exposed, so you can conveniently select what you 

 desire. It is best to count the scions as you cut 

 them in bunches of twenty-five each and lay down 

 with the to|)s the same direction, for conve- 

 nience afterwards in picking up, counting bunches, 

 and making bundles of larger size and equal num- 

 bers. If to be shipped, the leaves should be first 

 stripped ofl^ before tying up. 



Before you commence grafting assort the apple 

 roots, those the size of a goose-quill and upwards 

 may be grafted. Those less may be planted in uur- 

 ery rows in the spring, to be grafted there when 

 large enough, and those quite small should be 

 thrown away. Those selected for grafting should 

 have all their fibrous roots cut off clean, so they 

 will not interfere with grafting ; then tied up 

 in bundles of two hundred each and packed away 

 as fast as the work progresses until finished. Then 

 prepare the material for wrapping the grafts in the 

 following manner : Take cotton warp No. 9, 

 which is put up in hanks and bundles of five 

 pounds. Put a hank on a reel and wind loosely on 

 balls of two hanks each — you may use a little pa- 

 per filling to commence the ball. Then take five 

 pounds of rosin, two pounds of tallow, and twelve 

 ounces of beeswax, or in that proportion. In case 



beeswax cannot be had, use two parts of rosin to 

 one of tallow. Put all together int6 an iron pot 

 and place over a slow fire and bring It to a boil. 

 Then drop the cotton balls into the boiling compo- 

 sition as many at a time as will swim — turning 

 them around frequently, so the mixture will boil 

 through them, but as soon as they sink, they should 

 be taken out quickly, one at a time with a fork, let 

 drip, then lay away, and so continue until done. 

 The mixture may be set away carefully for future 

 use. Now procure a short - bladed shoe knife, 

 which is the best to cut the grafts, and a common 

 tin or iron pan about ten inches wide, sixteen 

 inches long and two inches high, to place on your 

 lap to drop the roots and scions into as you cut 

 them off, and then you are ready for work. 



Take a bundle or more of roots and wash 

 them clean of sand and earth and let them drip or 

 partially dry ; put about fifty at a time into your 

 pan. Then to properly cut them up, hold the root 

 in your left hand, the top from you and the collar of 

 the root (or earth mark) resting on your fore fin- 

 ger. Then make a regular sloping cut from you at 

 the cdllar about an inch long ; then turn the edge 

 of your knife toward you, and make a slit or tongue 

 commencing about one third the length of the 

 slope from the end and draw the knife toward you 

 with the grain about three-eighths of an inch deep, 

 placing your right thumb on the root to guide the 

 cut and protect your left hand in base the knife 

 should slip. Then draw the root forward and cut 

 off short about three inches long, and so continue 

 cutting until the root is too small or finished. When 

 you have several hundred cut in your pan, empty 

 on a table and cover up with a damp cloth. If one 

 person is to do all the work it is best not to cut 

 many roots at one time, before cutting scions and 

 putting them together. You slope the scions and 

 slit or tongue them precisely as the roots by revers- 

 ing the top and letting it pass under your arm if 

 very long ; slope the scions to a thin point so it 

 will easily bend, and open the tongue when putting 

 them together. Cut the scions about four inches 

 long, but if scarce three buds may do. The slope 

 on the scions and roots should be made with a single, 

 true cut, and with practice five to eight thousand 

 can be cut per day. 



In putting the grafts together place the roots 

 before you on a table and the scions to the right ; 

 pick up the roots with the left and the scions with 

 the right hand, press the point of the scion on the 

 slope of the root so the tongue will open and slip 

 into the tongue of the root and press together 

 tightly so the bark on one side at least does niatch ; 

 then lay on the table on the left side in regular 

 order until done. 



To tie the grafts, place the tops toward you on 

 the table and the waxed ball in a box to your 



