120 
Propagation of Apples 
Directions for Budding and Grafting 
*The apple is propagated either by bud- 
ding or grafting. Grafting is the more 
common way, and is the method in most 
general use. There are two principal 
forms of grafting; first, the whip or 
tongue graft, usually employed in uniting 
a piece of an apple twig to a section of 
an apple root; second, the cleft graft, 
employed in top working either young 
or old trees in the field. 
Scions 
A scion is a twig from a tree which is 
to be used for grafting purposes. Scions 
for root grafting may be taken from the 
trees at any time after the leaves have 
fallen, but it is much better to cut them 
before the first hard freeze. Never cut 
scion wood from trees while frozen. If 
cold weather comes on suddenly before 
the scions are taken, wait until they are 
thawed out. First, decide what varieties 
are wanted, then go to healthy trees of 
the desired kinds that are known to pro- 
duce good crops, and cut from them the 
best twigs of last season’s growth. Wood 
that is two years old is not suitable for 
grafting, although it will sometimes grow. 
Where scion wood is taken from a young 
tree it is often possible to get twigs as 
much as two feet long, but they can be 
used quite as well if the growth is not 
more than six or eight inches, which may 
be the case with old trees. Well-ma- 
tured water sprouts are sometimes used. 
Tf water sprouts are taken be sure they 
arise far enough above the ground to be 
certain that they have not come from the 
roots of the tree, which would make them 
seedlings. Never make the scions of soft, 
spongy, immature wood, or from any 
which has refused to shed its leaves. If 
the scions are taken in fall or early win- 
ter, they must be packed in green saw- 
dust and stored in the cellar like the 
stock (roots). 
Scions should not be permitted to 
either freeze or dry out while in storage. 
It should be remembered that when fruits 
are grafted the variety is determined by 
* For methods of growing seedling stocks see 
article on Growing Seedlings P. 119. 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
the scion. As a rule, the root has little 
or nothing to do with deteimining the 
size, color, shape or taste of the fruit 
However, the vigor of the root does have 
a great deal to do with the size ang 
longevity of the tree that results from 
the scion that is grafted upon it 
Where a long scion and a short piece 
of root are used the former will very 
likely take root itself above the stock. 
By many this is considered to be highly 
desirable, and in such instances 1t 18 said 
that the trees are “upon their own roots” 
Where a long root is used with a very 
short scion, the point of union will be 
so near the surface of the ground that 
there will be great danger that sprouts 
will arise from the roots which, of course, 
would make seedling trees 
Making the Grafts 
The grafting is best done in a cellar 
or basement room or may be performed 
in a moderately warm room, if precau- 
tions are taken to Keep the wood from 
drying out Keep packed up until ready 
to use, and repack as soon as the work 
is over. With the exception of the few 
pieces that are being handled, the re- 
mainder should be kept covered with a 
piece of moist cloth. Do not work about 
an open fire or near a hot stove, as both 
the roots and twigs may be dried out 
and seriously injured. Grafting may be 
done in January and February, and even 
as late as March. But February is con- 
sidered to be the best month. 
Ordinarily the scions for best root 
grafting are from six to seven inches 
long, but they may be made shorter if 
necessary. On the large end of the scion, 
make a sloping cut an inch or an inch 
and a half Jong, as shown in Figs. 2 and 
3. Use a sharp knife and make the cut 
smooth and uniform. On the surface of 
the sloping cut, from one-fourth to one- 
third of the way from the end, make a 
slit or tongue by a downward cut. The 
tongue should be an inch or more in 
depth, partially following the grain of 
the wood, and partially across the grain, 
so that the twig does not split. Profes- 
sional propagators form the sloping cuts, 
make the tongues and then cut off the 
