Grafting.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 10

Grafting.

In view of the near approach of the grafting season the following article from "Gardening Illustrated " should be of interest : —

We are just how at the best time of year for grafting, and those contemplating the practice will do well to be prepared with scions. Too many who wish to graft trees otherwise useless or not of sufficient merit to retain, have fouad a season lost solely because they omitted to

PROVIDIS THEMSELVES WITH THE NBEDFDL GRAFTS

at the proper moment. To work with prospect of success, tree growth should be a little in advance of the scions, and if these have been taken from off the parent trees and laid into the 6oil as if ordinary cuttings, they will remain dormant even after all tree growth has pushed freely. No doubt trade growers provide themselves with an ample stock of grafts seasonably, but grafting is much less resorted to in the case of young stocks than formerly, and budding is preferable wherever possible. Buds must be full of excitement at the time of insertion, and union with stock and bud soon results. Were that not the case the bud would soon perish. On the other hand, a graft has so much of body and of hard wood in it that it will endure for some two or three weeks in an active state, even though union with the stock be not effected. When the stock is in fit condition for grafting, the scion is the same, and if the work is properly performed, without doubt Jbe uniting process follows rapidly. After all it is just possible that the condition of the stock has most to do with the rapidity or otherwise of the process of union, for grafts are not easily killed until the season has considerably advanced. Whilst seasons and situations must govern tho time for grafting appreciably, yet the middle and end of April (September in New Zealand) is, on the whole, about the most favourable time In the case of stout stocks it does not at all follow that the heads which are to be removed need remain on the trees till so late a period. If cut some 6in or so above the point at which the grafting is ultimately to be done, even during the winter, the stem will not appreciably suffer, and if freshly cut clean off lower down just when the grafting is desirable, the stem vrill probably be found amply supplied with sap. Of course very much depends upon the extent and condition of the roots, but as grafts cannot for several weeks absorb all tho sap created, it is evident that too powerful a flow early is not desirable. Later, when the union is perfect and growth has resulted, the sap force can hardly be too strong, as a vigorous growth from the scions the first year means the foundation of a fine tree head later. There are literally tens of thousands of trees from five to 50 years old in the country which would be all the better for, and indeed would coon well repay

BEHEADING AND GRAFTING. We have an immense number of apple trees for instance, but how many of them cither fruit sparingly or produce fruit that is almost worthless ? How many, too, have become literally copse hcadp, co thick (hat pruning or thinning is a work of despair, and even if done would hardly be remunerative. In all auch cases it is wiser to take the heads off to clean stems, and regraft with some other productive and meritorious kinds. The beheading does not check the root action of the tree ; whilst the reheading by grafting literally gives renewed life and vigour to trees previously thought only fit to grub up. The robust growth on the tops allied to healthy and vigorous leafage reacts upon the roots — inspires thpm, as it were, with renewed activity ; aud conjoined, a fine, productive treehead soon n suits. When so served, orchard or garden trees have a start which no newlyplanted trees can hope to overtake. A stout stem, say 6in through, will easily take four strong grafts as big as a man's finger ; and each one, throwing the first year three 6tout shoots, forms a big head at once, which in three years becomes a large tree. Thon fruitfulncss follows quickly alfo, for the root aud head force is soon equalised. Of course much then depends upon the sorts worked, as some are so much more precocious than others, and some so much the more prolific, especially early kinds. Wo must not, however, be too anxious to give up everything good in fruits for the sake of securing precocious or free-fruiters. We want some which will give us late keepers, high flavour, fine form, and other qualities having special market value. There is so much room for development, in apple culture especially, that too much stress can hardly be laid upon the importance of REGHAFTING OLD AND APPARENTLY WORTHLESS TREES. A very odd-looking object certainly is a newly grafted treo which bas some seven or eightbranches all worked. After all, it is very doubtful whether that is the most desirable plan to adopt. As a rule, I think a clean stem, some 4ft or sft from the ground, to be preferable in the case of standard trees to many branches worked higher up. In the former case some four, or five stout grafts only can be employed, but the sap force is concentrated, and the growth all the more robust ; the resulting head later becomes the most handsome, whilst one, the product of many branches, always presents an ungainly appearance. The work of grafting ia simple enough, and when done not too far from the ground, is very easily performed. A clean part of the stem is selected, and a clean cut with a saw made, so as to obviate tho tearing of the bark. A sharp knife is drawn from the top of the stem 4in or sin in^U-ngth, and clean through the bark, in as many places as the grafts are to be inserted. A specially prepared piece of wood, pointed and flattened like one side of a clothes peg, is driven in bt-hiud the slits in tho. bark to open it. The grafts, stout aud of clean, vigorous wood, bevelled on one hide to fit the opening ruadi>, arc driven well In, aud then are secured by a bandage of Ftcut baet, thin clayed over, uml firittbed off neatly. Carefully done, the result may be looked for with entire confidence.

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