BRIDGE GRAFTING 381 



If the bark has been eaten from the roots for a considerable 

 distance underground, as is sometimes done by the pine mouse, 

 }t will be difficult or impossible to perform the operation and 

 save the tree. If the injury begins at, or a little below, ground 

 l€vel and extends up the trunk for greater or less distances, 

 the operation is entirely feasible. It becomes more difficult as 

 the area injured increases in width. 



Seedling trees or nursery trees are sometimes set close to 

 the injured trees and the tops grafted in above the wound. 

 Watersprouts or suckers below the wound are also grafted in to 

 bridge the gap. In trees set only two or three years these 

 sprouts may be used to form a new top, provided that they 

 spring from a point above that at which the tree was budded 

 in the nursery. 



Time of Performing Operation, Early spring following the 

 injury, beginning when the buds are swelling and for two or 

 three weeks thereafter is the best time to do the work. Go 

 over the orchard well in advance carefully to determine the 

 trees that need attention, so that the cions may be cut and 

 kept dormant and fresh until used. Failures often result from 

 doing the work too early or too late in the season. 



Equipment. A sharp knife, tack hammer, brads % to 1 

 inch long (No. 18) , and some form of grafting wax are needed. 

 In addition, a light wood wedge to aid in bending the cions 

 will prove useful. 



Preparing the Cions. Use strong cions of the previous sea- 

 son's growth that have matured well. Mature watersprouts or 

 suckers from hardy varieties are good. Do not use weak 

 shoots. If good one-year cions cannot be found, substitute 

 strong two-year growths. On large trees use the largest ma- 

 ture cions that it is possible to secure. For grafting on the 

 roots, a cion with a curve at the base will be useful. 



Determine the width of the space to be bridged (Fig. 151). 

 Make the cions from 3 to 4 inches longer than this space. At 

 about 2 inches from each end of the cion, make a long, sloping 

 cut to the heart or center and then to the end with edges 



