EXERCISE XXXIV 



THE STUDY OF SPLICE, WHIP, AND DOUBLE -WHIP GRAFTING 



Material. One-year-old apple-seedling roots, scions from apple 

 trees. 



Apparatus. Sharp budding-knife, raffia or grafting-cord. 



Grafting is the operation of inserting into a stock a scion or 

 twig comprising one or more buds. It is classified in various 

 ways, chiefly with reference to the method in which the scion 

 and the stock are joined. 



The union of the scion with the stock depends upon the grow- 

 ing together of the cambium tissue of the two plants. This tissue 

 is the living active cells found between the bark and the wood. 

 It is composed of cells which are actively dividing. The layer of 

 cambium tissue is very narrow, being only four or five cells in 

 thickness. It is very essential that careful and painstaking work 

 be done and that the student be thoroughly familiar with the posi- 

 tion the cambium layer occupies in both the stock and the scion. 



The scions are cut in the late fall, in winter, or at any time 

 before the buds swell in the spring. It is thought, however, that 

 the later the scions are taken from the tree before the buds swell, 

 the greater will be the success in grafting, other things being 

 equal. Each scion should contain from three to five well- 

 developed buds, and it should be cut about one-half inch above 

 and below a bud. Only the previous year's growth is used in all 

 ordinary cases, but an exception to this is found in the maples and 

 several of the ornamentals in which the older wood may be used. 



The scions should be stored in moss, sand, or sawdust and 

 kept in a cool place until they are used to prevent drying out 

 or swelling of the buds. This is very important for successful 

 grafting. Only well-formed branch buds should be used. 



SPLICE GRAFTING 



Splice grafting represents the simplest form of grafting. In 

 this form the scion and the stock should be as nearly the same 

 size as it is possible to get. In splice grafting it is well to use 



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