THE ORCHARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 955, 20 June 1890, Page 19

THE ORCHARD.

PRINCIPLES OF GRAFTING. A horticultural correspondent contributes the following timely suggestion : *lt is surprising that so few orchardists understand the vital principles between the graft and the scion. Grafting, as generally understood, is nothing but a mechanical operation; there is little thought about the scientific principles involved, except by the nursery men, and large opchardists, whose business demands that they work over large quantities of trees every year ; but among the smaller orohardists it is really little unstood; consequently, they have to rely entirely upon an expert :o do their grafting, at prices which his knowledge justifies and demands. Whereas, if the owner of a few trees understook the work in hand himself—and there is no reason why he should not—the wages paid to these exports might be saved. Besides, he would always be able to insert the scions at the proper time, thereby insuring more grafts and better unions. * The first requisite is a shatp knife to cut the scions, which would have been taken’ from the trees during pruniug season. Only the well-seasoned branches of last year’s erowth should be used, the tender tips in all cases being discarded, but not until ready for use ; otherwise, if cat off, evaporation will ensue The scions, after being cut from the tree, should bo placed in damp—not wet —saud, with butts or cut onds placed in the sand to the depth of three or four inohes and kept under cover until ready for use. Should they show signs of wilting, sprinkle water on the” sand. There is generally but little trouble, however, unless in the warmer counties ; but around the bay, where the atmosphere contains plenty of moisture, little care is recessary. 4 Just before the sap commences to flow top the trees to be grafted at the heiaht you intend grafting them, split the limbs so cut with a splitting-knife, cuttiog in just deep enough for the size of the scion, otherwise if you allow your splitting-chisel too much freedom, the pressure whicli holds the scion will be lost. Make as many cuts in each limb, according to its size, as you may want to insert scions, and then wedge them so as to fit the cuts, leaving two buds to each scion. If the scion is well cut and faced and the whole waxed over co as to exclude the air and rain, you will experience no trouble except perhaps from birds alighting ou and knocking off a few of the scions you have placed: but an ample number will be left if plenty have been inserted. It is always, a good plan to put in one-third more scions than are really necessary to draw on the tree, to allow for any accidents. This is the common method of top-grafting in orchards, and it can be followed by anybody. The principal points consist Jn using a sharp knife and having a good. e,ye to sea that the barks join properly and, the whole securely waxed over.’ PROTECTION FROM CANKER WORMS. (l>R. GEORGE THORBER, IN THE AMERICAN GAZETTE. The o.anker-worm, forty or fifty years ago, in the New England and other of the older States, so completely defoliated the orchards and shade-trees, that they were left bare and hrown as if a fire had passed over them. By a study of the insect’s habits the best treatment was learned, and for many year?, only few canker worms were seen. Bu r - m western New York, Ohio, and further west they have become as destructive as they formerly were near the seaboard. The caterpillars, after they have made their growth, enter the ground to pupate and then turn to moths, in which perfect state they come in early spring and ascend the trees to lay their eggs upon the trunk -. As soon as young leaves appear, the. caterpillars will hatch out. The male, like most other moths, ffies to the head of the tree, but the female moth is without wings, and therefore cannot reach the branches to deposit her eggs only by crawling up. All the methods for protecting the trees against this insect have reference to stopping the wingless female moth from crawling up the tree. Some of the contrivances for accomplishing this show much ingenuity and are expensive. In mast such matters the simplest and cheapest are the mo 4 effective. The best precaution is a band of stiff brown paper encircling the trunk. In the middle of eaoh strip of jiaper a band of tar is smeared, which, as long as it remains vi-cid, arrests the upward progress of the insect. The moth may sometimes manage to crawl up between the paper and the bark. This may be prevented by placing a layer of cotton batting inside of the paper band. Instead of tar, refti-e printer sink is preferred as being more lasting. In any case, the bands must be inspeod frequently and the visci-l material .renewed. Dust, small fragments of leaves, and other light material, may be carried by tire wind and adhere to the bands in sufficient quantities to form a bridee over which the wingless female may pass. Somelpms the moths themselves, in their attempts to, fo.rqe a p.assrige. up, are caught in such numbers that bodies of the foremost ones form a bridge oyep which the more fortunate followers may pta«s. The i ecgssity f- r renewing tffe viscid Surface will be evident. Another contrivance is to make a band of about four inches wide and Qoqsjde - qbly larger than the trunk of the tree. This js attached by its upper edge to a broad strip of muslin, which, by means of a gathering string, is made fast around the tree, leaving the tin band suspended about four inches from the tree on all sides. The inner sutface of the tin is smeared with a mixture of castor-oil and kerosene in equal parts. The insect cannot ascend the tree without trying to pass this barrier, and in so doing it Comes in contact with the kerosene on the tin and is disabled or killed. ‘ '