THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 753, 6 August 1886, Page 15

THE ORCHARD.

GRAFTING TREES.

A statement was recently made in these columns that the American Bornological Society, since its organisation, had ruled out some six hundred varietios of fruit as being unworthy of a place in the list of fruits desirable for cultivation. The list might be reduced still more ; but the unprofitable trees would still remain to bear occasional crops of inferior fruit unless tree-owners saw fit to abide by the judgment of the Fruit Committee and improve their trees by regrafting to better varieties. Time and money may be wasted or foolishly spent in grafting old trees. It is often better to cut down or dig out and begin anew on fresh land and with young trees of the most desirable sorts. But there are many young, healthy trees recently come into bearing which are not true to the name given them by the nurserymen or their agents, and which it may pay to graft over to better varieties. Any thrifty, vigorous tree that is not too large will will pay for grafting if the present variety is unworthy of cultivation and the tree is wanted at all. Our advice is to dig out every worthless old fruit tree on the farm or in the garden and convert it into fire-wood. If allowed to stand it is sure to make a breeding ground for injurious insects whose progeny will prey upon th.B fruits of better trees. In these days of harmful insects, never let a tree stand because it is not thought worth cutting down. It is worth destroying, if for no other object than to check the inorease of borers, caterpillars and other creeping and flying things. Having cleared out everything not worthy of keeping then, then graft the inferior varieties to the best kinds known. Grafting is a very simple operation for any person with mechanical ingenuity enough to whittle a cider tap that will fill a smooth, round hole, or who can sharpen a jack-knife to a good edge. The tools needed are a fine saw, a strong knife and hammer for splitting the stock, a keen-edged knife for shaping the scions, and some grafting wax for covering the cut surfaces to keep out air and water till the parts have had time to unite and heal over. For wax there is probably nothing better than that recently recommended by Dr Shurtleff, the formula being tour and one half pounds of white resin, one pound pure beeswax and one pint linseed oil, all to be melted together, and, after cooling in cold water, to be worked to a uniform consistency.—-N. E. Farmer.