100 BUDDING AND GRAFTING 



grafting, which is the grafting in the top or in the branches 

 of the tree. Under this head is usually included cleft and 

 bark grafting. (2) Stem grafting, which is the grafting in the 

 trunk or the main stem of the tree. Under this head is 

 included side grafting and sometimes bridge grafting. (3) 

 Crown grafting, which is the grafting performed at or near 

 the crown of the plant, just at the surface of the ground. 

 (4) Root grafting, which is the grafting done entirely upon 

 the roots, or in which the stock is a root. For the purpose 

 of description the best classification is that which considers 

 the ways of making the union. There are many modifica- 

 tions of each form of grafting and only the most important 

 types are discussed. 



Purpose and Value of Grafting. — Grafting as well as budding 

 is used to perpetuate and to propagate a known variety 

 of a plant which may be either a fruit or ornamental. It 

 is a vegetative means of plant multiplication in which a 

 plant of known quality is propagated in a commercial way. 

 It is of great value, because it enables the grower to multiply 

 and to increase a good variety, which might be lost if propa- 

 gation by seed was undertaken. Grafting is also of value 

 because the grower is sure just what his new plant is going 

 to be and he knows for a certainty that the new plant will 

 be like the parent plant. 



Uses of Grafting.- — Grafting is used for several reasons, of 

 which some of the most important are: (1) To perpetuate a 

 known variety. This is the most important use of grafting. 

 (2) To increase the ease and the speed of multiplication of 

 plants. (3) To produce some radical change in the habit 

 and the nature of the two parts. Grafting will modify the 

 stature of a plant. It is the most common means of dwarfing 

 trees. The pear is dwarfed by grafting it upon the quince, 

 and the apple by grafting it on the dwarf paradise stock. 

 (4) Grafting may be used to adapt plants to adverse soils. 

 A common example is seen when the plum is grafted on the 

 peach so that the plum can be grown on a sandy soil, and 

 vice versa. (5) Grafting may be used to correct a poor habit 

 of growth, as, for example, the Canada Red apple which 

 has a straggling habit of growth, is grafted on some straight 



