While nothing can be done out of doors in the nursery, the process of
root grafting may be carried on, and the stock be ready for setting as
soon as the grounds are open in spring.
When this method of grafting is employed with discretion, it greatly
aids the nurseryman. It is a resource in case he cannot procure stocks
to bud or graft upon; it makes finer and handsomer trees; and it can
be carried on at a season of leisure; and the scions, being early in
the ground, have a longer season of growth by two months than buds, or
ordinary grafts.
Although any healthy root with some fibres will answer to graft upon,
yet experienced nurserymen prefer the _tap_ roots of young seedling
stocks. Those who have apple and pear stocks which are to be removed,
should employ the open weather of winter to raise them. The tap roots
may be taken for grafting purposes and the stocks put away in cellars,
or buried in the ground.
We do not know that there is any difference in favor of the root of
one variety over another; but it will not do to propagate every
variety of fruit by this method. Experience has shown that some sorts
do better by root grafting than in any other way; but other kinds are
very apt to be winter-killed; and some varieties have such a
straggling habit of growth, that it would be extremely difficult to
train them to a good head; and such sorts, therefore, require to be
budded or grafted high up on good stocks.
The roots being washed, are cut into four or five inch pieces; and the
scions prepared as for ordinary grafting. Splice, or tongue grafting
is the most convenient method. Woollen yarn, cut to ten or twelve
inches’ length, is wound around it closely at the point of junction.
Let the grafting wax be kept in a melted state, by being put in a pan,
over a few coals. Holding the work over the pan, with a spoon pour a
portion of the liquid all over the yarn; it hardens immediately, and
the whole may be set in rows in a box and covered above the point of
union with moist sand, and kept in a cellar till it is time to turn
them out in the spring.
* * * * *
The cherry, plum, pear and apple trees, in a diseased condition, will
often throw up numerous and thrifty sprouts that will offer to an
inexperienced cultivator inviting temptations to multiply his stock at
a rapid rate with little labor. If he be deceived by these
appearances, and propagate his valuable kinds upon these diseased
growths, his efforts will ultimately result in his disappointment.