Propogation by Grafting. 215 



joint is wrapped with a narrow strip of grafting paper 

 or grafting cloth (389), or wound with grafting cord 

 (388). Sometimes the joints are simply tied with un- 

 waxed cord. 



Whip-grafting is generally used when the stock is 

 little if any thicker than the cion. It is much used by 

 nurserymen in certain localities in grafting the apple and 

 some other fruits upon roots (root-grafting (391)). 



Whip-grafting is also considerably used in some cli- 

 mates of severe winters, in top-grafting or ' ' top- working ' ' 

 apple trees in the nursery, in order to give certain 

 slightly-tender varieties the benefit of a specially hardy 

 stock. This grafting is performed on two- or three-year- 

 old trees, that have been grown from root grafts. The 

 trunk is cut off at the height it is desired to form the 

 head of the tree, and a cion of the wariety to be propa- 

 gated is inserted; or several cionsare inserted in as many 

 branches. The latter method, while more expensive, has 

 the advantage of giving to the top-grafted trees the branch 

 formation of the stock, which is sometimes important. 



As growth starts on top-grafted trees, shoots that push 

 out from the stock should be rubbed off to prex^ent them 

 from robbing the cions of nourishment. 



391. Root Grafting is generally performed in winter 

 and in-doors. The stocks are small trees, grown one or 

 two years from seed (seedlings). These are dug in 

 autumn, and stored as recommended for cions (386). 

 When ready for grafting, the roots are washed and 

 trimmed by cutting off the larger branch roots, after 

 which the stem is cut off at the crown, and the distal 

 end of the root (116) is shaped as directed above (390). 



