86 
T II E G A R D E N M A G A Z I N E 
March, 1915 
to the Dwarf stock there is none which 
excels McIntosh, and certainly there is no 
apple which can compare with McIntosh 
in its season. It is one of the finest fall 
apples we have and should be included in 
every home orchard. Northern Spy is a 
good apple on dwarf stock and will bear 
earlier on Dwarf than it will on Standard. 
We have had dwarf trees which were five 
years planted carrying a nice little crop of 
fruit. Of course, this is not nearly as soon 
as McIntosh. 
For those near New York the list of 
desirable varieties for the home orchard 
might include: 
Summer. Williams Red, Primate, Jef- 
fries, Yellow Transparent, Oldenburg, 
Chenango. 
Fall. Wealthy, McIntosh, Maiden 
Blush, Mother, Bailey Sweet. 
Winter. Banana, Spitzenburg, New- 
down, Spy, Canada Red; while farther 
south Stayman, Winesap, Rambo and 
Jonathan might be added to the list. 
Grafting Fruit Frees Made Easy — By E. I. Farrington, ehusetts 
OLD TREES MADE NEW— POOR VARIETIES CHANGED INTO GOOD 
ONES— AN EASY WAY FOR THE AMATEUR TO KEEP UP TO DATE 
I T IS a curious fact that while the Co- 
burn graft, or the saw graft, as it is 
commonly called, is widely practised 
in the central states, it is hardly known 
in other parts of the country. Yet it is the 
simplest grafting method which has been 
discovered and may be made use of as ad- 
vantageously in the home orchard as any- 
where else. 
The two illustrations make the method so 
plain that but little description is needed. 
A branch from one to two inches in diameter 
is about the right size for grafting and should 
be cut off squarely six or eight inches from 
its base in the usual way. Then a slit is 
made along one side of the stub with a 
coarse saw, the saw being held in such a way 
that the opening is deepest at the end. 
Next the cion is inserted and if properly 
prepared will fit very tightly, with the bark 
of the cion and the stock coming into close 
contact. Two strokes of the knife should 
be sufficient to pre- 
pare the cion, cut- 
ting it the precise 
shape to fit into 
the opening in the 
stock. It must be 
wedge-shaped 
along the inner side 
and taper toward 
the lower end. 
Thus prepared, a 
considerable sec- 
tion of bark is left 
on the outer side to 
unite with that of 
the stock. 
With the cion in 
The Cobum graft all ready 
for waxing. This is really a 
cleft graft applied to old 
limbs 
The correct way for a cleft 
graft; the stock and cion fit 
accurately 
place, grafting wax 
is applied in the 
ordinary way, but 
perhaps with more 
than ordinary free- 
dom, since the cion 
is not held quite as 
firmly at first as 
when the cleft graft 
is used. In the 
home orchard it is 
wise, too, to bind 
narrow strips of 
cotton cloth 
around the graft in 
order to eliminate all danger of disturbance. 
In fact, it is advisable to use the cloth strips 
even with the cleft graft. Although it is a 
common practice to use only a single cion 
For the Coburn graft the stock is simply cut off squarely 
with a coarse saw 
when the Coburn method is followed, there 
is no reason why several should not be in- 
serted. 
Apple and pear trees are successfully 
grafted in March or even in April, but, since 
the sap begins to flow earlier in cherry trees, 
February is the month for grafting them. 
It is commonly laid down as a rule that 
cions must be cut in the fall or winter and 
stored in sand until they are to be used. 
This is the practice followed when consid- 
erable grafting is to be done, but if only a 
few cions are to be inserted, they may be 
cut at grafting time. In any case, they 
should come from growth of the previous 
season and contain four or five buds. Also, 
they should be cut from trees which are free 
bearers of first-class fruit. Many amateurs, 
and not a few farmers, fail to realize that 
each tree has a distinct individuality. Of 
a dozen trees bought and planted at one 
time, two or three are almost certain to out- 
rank the others in quality of fruit and fruit- 
ing propensity. In the West, where the 
record of every tree in some orchards is kept 
on paper for several successive years, an as- 
tonishingly large number of drones is found. 
If fresh cions are cut at grafting time they 
must be kept moist until set. This is 
easily accomplished by throwing a little 
earth over them. 
When an old tree is to be entirely reno- 
vated, the top may be cut off and as many 
as twenty grafts made. In three or four 
years the tree will begin to fruit and should 
produce abundant crops. It is best, though 
to make over a tree gradually, spreading the 
work over three years. When two cions 
are used on each stock and both live, the 
least promising one should be cut out the 
second year, but not before. Unless the 
grafts are bound, it is advisable to make a 
second application of wax after two or three 
months, as that first used is likely to be- 
come soft and spread when hot summer 
weather comes on. Then water has an 
opportunity to work in and the cion is 
loosened. 
If deemed desirable, several varieties of 
one fruit may be grown on the same tree. 
Amateurs find it pleasant to try out new 
varieties of apples and other fruits by the 
grafting method whenever they are able to 
obtain a few cions. 
They are also able 
to get a wide var- 
iety of fruit for 
home use with but 
a few trees. The 
Macintosh apple, 
for example, is one 
of the very best 
varieties for the 
home table in many 
sections of the 
Whip graft. Cion and stock Country, but as its 
ready to be brought together. w id e popularity has 
They should be of same dia- been w()n Qnl j n re _ 
meter . J . 
. . cent years, it is not 
found in the ma- 
jority of home 
orchards. Yet it is 
very easily propa- 
gated and cions are 
readily obtained. 
Some, like the 
Buerre Bose pear, 
are preferable when 
grafted on a foreign 
stock. The tree 
grows poorly, yet 
the fruit is of high 
quality, large, 
juicy and sweet. 
(See also article 
on page 112.) 
Any graft is better for be- 
ing tied before the wax is 
applied to keep out air and 
moisture 
