AND CITY BEAUTIFUL 77 



(The fruit borne on grafted trees is the same variety as 

 that from which the scion is taken.) Cleft grafting is 

 often practiced to obtain results from seedlings in the 

 shortest possible time. It is also used to change the fruit 

 upon any tree to a more desirable variety. It is not as 

 difficult to graft as many believe. A careful boy of ten 

 years often has as good results as an experienced gardener. 



ROOT GRAFTING 



Root grafting, as the name implies, is the placing of 

 a scion of the desired variety upon the roots of some other. 

 Apple or pear seedlings one or two years old furnish gpod 

 stocks. Fruit trees and many varieties of ornamental 

 trees, shrubs and roses are root grafted. The scions can 

 often be gathered. They should be the short sprouts of 

 the previous year's growth. They are best selected from 

 thrifty trees on or near the ends of fully exposed branches. 

 In selecting scions avoid long sap-sprouts with long spaces 

 between the buds or nodes. They may be gathered at any 

 time when not frozen, after the leaves drop until the buds 

 swell in the spring. If not used immediately, they should 

 be kept covered with damp moss in a cool moist place to 

 keep them fresh and plump. Different varieties should 

 always be marked. The stocks or roots may be stored in 

 the same manner and used at any time in winter. A 

 common .shoe knife which may be purchased for ten or 

 fifteen cents makes an excellent knife for root grafting 

 when kept sharp. The stock and scion must be kept in 

 place until they unite. For this purpose grafting cloth 

 is perhaps the best. It is easily made as follows : 



For grafting cloth melt together over a slow fire four 

 parts of unbleached resin and one part of beef tallow or raw 

 linseed oil. Spread this evenly over cotton cloth with a 

 brush or stick. The cloth should be tacked over a board 

 or box and kept warm so the mixture will spread evenly. 

 When cool roll and tie up in a waxed or oiled paper. Keep 

 in a cool moist place until needed. When used, it should 

 be cut in strips about one-fourth inch wide. There are 



