56 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
TOP WORKING TREES IN THE NURSERY 
E. A. SMITH, Vice-Pres., The Jewell Nursery Co., Lake City, Minn. 
Planting the Seeds 
We plant the apple seeds and at the end of one year dig 
the roots, then sort them and transplant those suitable in 
the spring of the following year. These we grow one year, 
at the close of which there will be a top varying in length 
from one to three feet, and in caliper from one-fourth to 
three-eighths of an inch. The seedling root now has a two 
years’ growth and a one year top. The following spring we 
cut off this top somewhat close to the ground, then select a 
scion of such variety as we wish to propagate about the same 
size as the apple seedling. The root is cut slant¬ 
ing and the scion about the same slant so that 
they will fit closely, using the whip grafting 
method. We then wind soft grafting wax about 
the root and scion at the point of union so as 
to hold the scion firmly in place. 
Preparing the Grafting 
Wax 
The wax is prepared in 
the following manner; i 
pound bees-wax, i pound 
tallow, 6 pounds resin. Put 
in a kettle, melt and 
thoroughly mix. Then take 
out in chunks about as 
large as a man’s fist' and 
cool. The wax can then 
be laid aside for an indefinite 
period. When it is used 
for grafting it must be 
heated. We use a small 
stove especially prepared for 
this purpose in the field. 
We set a pail of water on 
it to be heated, and put the 
grafting wax in this water to be softened. A man then 
puts grease upon his hands so that he can handle the wax 
without its sticking. We prefer wax to either paper or 
cloth as it yields more readily to the growth of the tree, 
expanding and yet always fitting the growth so closely as 
to be air-tight, thus insuring a perfect union. 
Soon after the wax is wound about the scion and root it 
becomes cool and the wax is then very firm and becomes 
quite hard so that it will not readily dent with the finger nail, 
but in the warm rays of the sun the wax quickly softens and 
becomes smooth on the outside, almost as though it had 
been polished. This helps in the shedding of rainfall so 
that the water which runs down the scion, as soon as it 
strikes the wax quickly runs over the surface and away 
from the point of grafting. The work must be done in the 
spring as early as possible. 
Results 
Where the union takes place an enlarged growth quite 
often occurs which is frequently so rough and large in ap¬ 
pearance it is sometimes mistaken for crown gall, but as the 
tree becomes older, this enlargement disappears, the tree 
growth building up around it. The wax sticks tightly to 
the tree, and frequently remains upon it either in a broken 
or crumbly condition for several years. In fact, we have 
seen traces of wax upon a tree five years after it was planted. 
It does no harm whatever to the tree, but where this method 
of propagation is not fully understood, parties 
have sometimes taken the liberty of calling 
these trees unsound, in some instances even 
claiming that the wax was put on the trees to 
cover a defect or gall which might appear. 
Even nurserymen not familiar with this 
method of propagation 
have been led to won¬ 
der at it and what it 
meant, but the method 
is all right. To con¬ 
vince yourself of this 
fact you have only to 
give it a trial. In 
southern countries it 
would not be a success 
for the reason that the 
extreme heat would 
melt the wax and it 
would run away from 
the point of union, but 
Fig. 3—Third step in the pro- as far north as Miunc- 
cess of top working in the field. 
Winding a heavy coating of wax SOta there iS VCry Httlc 
about the scion and root to hold . 
it firmly in place so that it will danger of this OCCUT- 
form a perfect union. 
nng. 
Advantages 
Now what is the advantage of using this method of 
grafting in the nursery field? Under normal conditions a 
five to six or four to five foot tree, branched, can be grown 
in two years, while with the piece root system it often takes 
from three to four years to produce a good five to six foot tree. 
Cost 
The first cost is greater than in piece root grafting, but 
this is made up in the time saved in producing a tree ready 
for market. Two men with the assistance of a boy who 
handles the wax can top-graft in the nursery, 1200 to 1400 
trees in a day. Trees grown in this manner are healthy, 
vigorous, desirable and much sought after by those favoring 
the whole root method of propagation. 
Fig. 2 
Fig. 2 —Second step in 
the process of top working 
in the field. Placing the 
scion in position prepara¬ 
tory to winding with wax. 
Scion and root at point of 
union prepared the same as 
in piece root grafting. 
Fig. 1 
Fig. 1 —First step in the process 
of top working in the field. Cut¬ 
ting off the top of the seedling 
upon which is to be grafted the 
variety desired. Root of seedling 
two years old; top one year old. 
