552 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 10, 1915. 
superior location or more probably a bet¬ 
ter and more thrifty root growth in¬ 
herited from the seedling upon which it 
was grown. It certainly would be inter¬ 
esting to know if seedlings grown from 
well-matured apples from a vigorous 
growing variety would produce seedlings 
enough better than the average cider ap¬ 
ple stock to pay for the extra care in se¬ 
lecting the seed, as I suppose such seed 
might be obtained from a canning factory. 
Robber trees, like robber cows, should 
be largely weeded out at the earliest time 
possible, not after they are grown up. 
If good judgment is used in selecting the 
best from the starting point, a 10-per¬ 
cent. net profit would not be too much to 
expect from such a selection, and I have 
seen some commercial orchards where 
much more than that could have been 
gained with an added value if one wished 
to sell the orchard. Begin right, will ap¬ 
ply to the commercial orchard of the fu¬ 
ture as well as to o.ler business ven¬ 
tures where high-priced experts are hired 
to put them on a profitable footing. 
Worcester Co., Mass. h. o. mead. 
Vine and Tree Grafting 
GRAPES AND GRAFTING. 
T HERE is one grape which wmuld give 
me great pleasure to see tried out in 
different sections of the Northern States, 
the Captivator, Munson’s creation. It is 
a hybrid crossed on a hybrid, combining 
the blood of Labrusea, Vinifera and prob¬ 
ably Bourquiniana. The thrift and hard¬ 
iness of the large wild Labrusea, the rich¬ 
ness of Black Hamburg, are mingled with 
Delaware crossed on Goethe. Imagine 
a bunch of Delaware with berries the size 
of Concord, with far more brilliant color¬ 
ing, with most delicious unexcelled flavor 
and you have an idea of Captivator. It 
is hardy in Eastern Massachusetts and 
easily propagated from cuttings. There 
is no other red grape of American origin 
when placed in a dish with McPike and 
Niagara (all of about equal size) that 
gives such a surprise to the eyes of a 
grape lover. 
Now as regards Merike: I have fruited 
it a number of years and consider it by 
far the best black. A Concord in good 
behavior, more abundant beai’er than the 
latter, while retaining all its good quali¬ 
ties. A true lineal heir, being a seed¬ 
ling of Worden which in turn is a pure 
seedling of Concord. 
I grow about 20 varieties of grapes on 
tall iron posts, angle iron, same as furni¬ 
ture men use in spring bed construction. 
Through top of post a hole is drilled. To 
fasten vine I use insulated electric light 
wire of good size; one tie only is required. 
I prune in the Fall, after the first freeze. 
The growth being high above ground pre¬ 
vents mildew in a large degree, in fact, I 
have never sprayed or found it necessary. 
Grapes inclined to mildew are often free 
when grown at top of high trees, so I con¬ 
clude this high post method is of benefit. 
As regards grape grafting I have had 
good success in proceeding as follows: 
early in Spring, just before sap starts, the 
vine is sawed off, not close down to the 
crown as often recommended, but say 
three to six inches up from ground. The 
usual method of splitting with chisel is 
emploj 7 ed, once across where two scions 
are set, splitting across cleft where four 
scions are put in. Next a water pail, 
with bottom out, is inverted over vine, 
and sifted loam pressed carefully and 
firmly around stem and scions till pail is 
filled. The earth in pail is watered very 
frequently and never allowed to become 
dry. Those who graft for the first time 
should know that grafting wax is not 
used, and that the scions are shaped ex¬ 
actly as in tree-grafting. It is well to 
have scions with three buds, thus bring¬ 
ing the upper bud close to surface or just 
above surface of earth in pail. The after 
care is to pinch back at once all shoots 
from old vine. The following Spring pail 
is carefully removed and, when growth 
starts, the earth about scions. This 
method is new and original so far as I am 
aware. I have practised it several sea¬ 
sons, and learn that others having wit¬ 
nessed the success are following it also. 
Scion roots cannot develop, moisture is 
abundantly supplied, also more heat than 
Visual. FREDERICK II. PAGE. 
Massachusetts. 
TOP-GRAFTING. 
I see an article on page 394 on “Cleft 
Grafting.” by K. and wish to ask him 
about it. I want to know when is the 
best time to graft and also how to make 
the wax? Would you graft limbs as 
large as the arm? How thick should the 
wax be placed on the wound? My scions 
were cut in the freeze of February and 
placed in the dry cool cellar. By what 
sign mav I know when to graft? 
Duo, W. Va. J. w. 
Cleft-grafting may be done any time 
from about the first of April until the 
trees are in full foliage, but perhaps the 
most favorable time for the work is 
just when the trees are breaking into 
leaf. As to cleft-grafting limbs as thick 
as the arm, it will all depend on how 
thick the arm is, for it must be remem¬ 
bered that the arm of a stout person is 
very much greater in diameter than that 
of a very thin person. Limbs up to 2% 
to three inches in diameter may be cleft- 
grafted, but if much larger they should 
be bark-grafted, but the work cannot be 
done until the sap is flowing freely. In 
this style of grafting the limb is sawed 
off same as for cleft-grafting, the stub 
is not split, but the grafts are pushed 
down between the bark and the wood. In 
this style of grafting several scions can 
be set in a stub as no splitting of the 
stub is necessary. In a stub SV 2 to four 
inches in diameter, four scions may be 
quite easily set, and more in branches of 
larger size. Different operators recom¬ 
mend various ways of preparing the scion 
for insertion. In my experience I have 
found the shouldered half wedge style the 
best. The scions are cut about the same 
length as for cleft-grafting, but instead 
of cutting the lower end full wedge shape 
as in cleft-grafting, the one side is made 
flat with a square shoulder, this shoulder 
being equal to half the diameter of the 
scion. The other side is cut wedge shape, 
both edges being of equal thickness and 
quite thin. The scion when put in place 
should be pushed down between the bark 
and wood about one inch with the shoul¬ 
der of the scion resting on the stub on 
the inside, or facing the center of the 
stub. After the scions are in place they 
should be bound with a couple of strands 
of raffia at the top of the stub to hold 
them more firmly in place, after which 
the stub must be waxed all over the end, 
bringing the wax down over the bark a 
half inch or so all around and carefully 
covering all cracks in the bark junc¬ 
tion of stub and scion. After the graft 
has made some growth, supports will 
have to be provided to prevent the wind 
from blowing them off, this may be done 
by lashing a dead branch to the stub and 
tying the growing grafts to it with some 
kind of soft material, such as raffia, etc. 
In cleft or bark-grafting the wax need 
not be applied over a sixteenth of an 
inch thick. 
Recipe for making the best wax.—To 
four pounds of resin and one of beeswax 
add one pint of linseed oil; put in an 
iron pot, heat slowly, and mix well. Pour 
into cold water and pull by hand until 
it assumes a light color, work into sticks 
and put into a cool place until wanted 
for use. In using oil the hands, work the 
wax until soft, and press it tightly 
around the grafts and over the end of the 
stub and all cracks. This wax will not 
crack in cold, nor run in hot weather. 
K. 
WHAT IS HOME WITHOUT 
TREES, PLANTS, SHRUBS AND FLOWERS ABOUT IT? 
Such a home is like a window without curtains, like a 
parlor without furniture, like a woman without hair. 
MAKE YOUR HOME 
an attraction to the community, a pleasure 
to your neighbors and a comfort to yourself 
Our 1915 Catalog 
(our only agent) 
will tell you lots of interesting things about trees, plants, shrubs and 
flowers, what to plant in a rock garden, how to attract wild birds, 
how to care for roses and many other things. 
It will surprise you to learn 
how much you can do with a little money 
Our knowledge is yours 
NEW ENGLAND NURSERIES 
209 Concord Road 
BEDFORD, MASS. 
TRADE HARK 
1878—THE TEST OF TIME—1915 
Our sales this year to date arc the largest in our history. What better evidence 
can be given to prove that King's Genesee Valley grown Trees, combined with 
the pergonal painstaking service of King Brothers in handling and shipping 
all orders, should receive first consideration by every planter who sets out 
trees this spring. We please our customers and hold tneir trade permanently. 
Some Wonderful Bargains in Apple, Pear, Peach and Plum Trees 
*5 BALDWIN APPLE TREES, 2-yr., 4 to 5 ft. . $1.25 
25 MclNTOSH APPLE TREES, lyr., 4 ft. and up, $2.25 
25 ELBERTA PEACH TREES, l yr., 3 to 3k, ft. . $1.50 
25 BARTLETT PEAR TREES. 2-yr., 4 ft. and up, $8.00 
25 BURBANK PLUM TREES, 2-yr., 4 ft. and up, $8.00 
Similar offers on our complete line. All trees guaranteed absolutely true to 
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Special Prices to Larne Buyers—-Beautifully Illustrated Catalog FREE to Everybody 
KING BROTHERS NURSERIES, 7 Oak Street, DANSVILLE, N.Y. 
"It's Cheapest to Buy the Best ” 
More than 25 vears our DEPENDABLE TREES have been offered through this paper. The largest 
growers in thi's and other states vouch for their superior qualities and values. No misleading 
promises or FAKE WHOLESALE PRICES. Our aim as always QUALITY FIRST and DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR 
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Estab. 1847 H. S. WILEY & SON, Box B, Cayuga, New York 
300,000 
APPLES 
Budded on whole roots French SeediingC-7 ft., tl’sc.; 5-fi ft., 7c.; 4-5 ft.. 5c.; 3-4 ft., 
branched, 4c. 200.000 Peach, 8 U>c„ 6 * 20 ., 4c.,3>2C.; and thousands of Pear, Plum. 
Cherry, Quince, Grapes, Roses and Small Fruits. The finest we have ever of¬ 
fered. Order from the man who Brows his Dwn trees and save disappointment at fruiting 
time. Catalog free to every body. Send card today. THOMAS E. SHEERIN, NURSERY¬ 
MAN, No. 21 Main Street, Dansville, N. Y. The Kind That Produces Results. 
450,000 TREES 
200 varieties. Also Grapes, Small Fruits, etc. Best rooted 
stock. Genuine,cheap. 2 sample currants—10c. Descriptive 
price list free. Lewis Roesch, Box L, Fredonia, N. Y. 
—COLLINS 1 -] 
Free Guide for 
Orchard an d Garden 
Features best varieties of fruits, 
shrubs and decorative plants. 
Contains unique,'helpful 
Special 
Collection Offers 
which save you money and assure continuous, long- 
season yield. Write today lor your free copy. 
ARTHUR J. COLLINS, Box 32, Moorestown, N.J. 
TREES 
Fruit and Ornamental; *' i 
Shrubs; Vines; Roses; t 
Hedge; Berries, etc. ♦ 
A complete aisortment for every planting purpose— l 
orchard, garden, street or lawn. Start right with ♦ 
Guaranteed Stock that is hardy, free from disease 
and True-to-Name. 
BUY FROM THE GROWER 
and have your trees shipped direct from the nursery 
where they are raised. Come to the nursery and make 
a personal selection or send a postalfor free catalog. 
ESTABLISHED 1869 
GEO. A. SWEET NURSERY CO. 
20 Maple Street, Dansville, N. Y. 
f 
F*ru.it Trees 
Berry Plants, Asparagus, Ornamentals and Roses. 
Direct to planters from our nurseries at greatly reduced 
prices. Send for new CATALOGUK, which tells how 
and where to get FRESH DUG trees, FREIGHT PAID. 
I/Ainoreaux Nursery Co., Schoharie, N. Y. 
Fruit Trees and 
Small Fruits 
Amateurs may be led astray by glowing 
descriptions of new offerings. We grow 
stock especially 
FOR FRUIT GROWERS 
who want nothing but the best, and that 
which will bring them good, sure returns. 
We aim to DRAW a few NEW cus¬ 
tomers each year, and HOLD every one 
of them—not by low prices or extravagant 
promises, but by high quality and reli¬ 
ability. 
ORNAMENTAL STOCK 
at reasonable prices. All stock is described 
and priced in our new. catalogue, FREE. 
JOS. H. BLACK, SON & CO., Hightstown, N. J. 
“Apples for Profit and Use” 
—waRonloada for market and barrels for 
the home. The interesting chapter on 
apple* in our 1916 Fruit Book tells best 
methods of selecting, planting: and 
growing and lists our many standard 
varieties —all guaranteed true-to- 
name, hardy and well rooted. Other 
chapters describe our full line of pears, 
plums, strawberries, currants, ornamen¬ 
tal shrubs. Write for book today. Free, 
Barnes Bros. Nursery Co. 
Box 8 Yalesville, Conn. 
ATTRACTIVE OFFER 
IN NURSERY STOCK 
For Spring planting we have as fine a lot of stock as 
can be found in the Country. Ail stock freshly dug. 
and not in cold storage. Special prices on large 
quantities. Write for Catalogue, and send us your 
list of wants. Apples and Peaches in large quanti¬ 
ties. Send order while there is a full list of varieties. 
THE STEPHEN HOYT’S SONS CO., New Canaan. Conn. 
DWARF 
TREES 
APPLE 
PEAR 
PLUM 
CHEERY 
PEACH 
THEY BEAR LIKE THIS 
Our FREE CATALOGUE tells 
you all about them. Write for it. 
The Van Dusen Nurseries 
Box T, Geneva, N.Y. 
My Pennsylvania Grown 
BUDDED and GRAFTED English Walnut 
and Pecan trees will succeed with you. 
Yeu will find my catalogue of more than ordinary interest 
and I want yeu to have a copy. 
t f you don’t order some of my Hardy Budded and Grafted trees 
this season, you will do so later. I feel sure, because they are of 
such value and importance that you can’t afford to not do so. 
J. F. JONES, The Nut Tree Specialist, Box 527, Lancaster, Pa. 
