Show I BRIDGE RID IDGE GRAFTING RA I- I IU U NG IN F INJURED 5 UR D F FRUIT U TREE E J 11 i iI I IW I W iI ir iw i- i I I r I w- w I C r A I B 8 LJ D e Details of Bridge Grafting Grafting Grafting-A A the Trunk of a Tree Girdled by Mice B the Wound Cleansed and the Bark Along the Margins Trimmed Back to Healthy Growing Tissue C a Scion With Beveled Ends Ready for Insertion Insertion Insertion Inser Inser- tion D Longitudinal Section of the Trunk With Scions in Place Showing Their Insertion Under the Bark of w E Scions In Place Ready for Waxing 1 Bridge grafting the use of scions or small limbs to connect the cambium cambIum cambium cam cam- above and below a large wound or girdled strip may be be practiced successfully successfully suc suc- on almost any kind of fruit tree tre that can be propagated readily by grafting It It ItIs is used more often with the apple than any other fruit but pear trees often are treated in inthis inthis inthis this way especially In certain sec sec- There seems to be no reason why the method should not also be successful on plums and cherries Peaches however graft less readily and there may be some question as to the usefulness of the method In the case of this fruit Mechanical Injuries which may be remedied are usually Inflicted by anImals animals animals ani anI- mals by burrowing Insects or by Implements Implements implements Im Im- im- im carelessly used Various diseases diseases diseases dis dis- dis- dis eases such n as pear blight also cause local Injuries which may may call for forbridge forbridge forbridge bridge grafting The trunks of pear peal trees are not infrequently completely girdled and killed by pear blight Bridge grafting If done In time however however however how how- ever may save the tree The method also is useful when large areas of bark have been killed by liy sun scald or other troubles Protection of trees against rabbits and mice and disease Is of course bett better r than having to bridge graft raft to tG overcome damage Grafting in Spring To be effective bridge grafting should be done in the spring before growth starts though sometimes it can be done after growth starts if dormant scions melons for the purpose can be secured Prepare the wound In the tree by cutting away all dead tissue and thoroughly thoroughly thoroughly thor thor- cleansing the Injured parts If 1 L l. sterilize by washing with a solution of of mercury copper copper cop cop- per Jer sulphate or some other antiseptic I The Irregular edges of the bark above the tite girdled tract or wound should be cut back Into an even edge dge far enough from the wound to make c certain that b healthy althy cambium cambium- Is under she Che bark For the grafting select scions from wood of the previous seasons season's growth either branches grew the preceding preceding preceding pre pre- ceding season or water sprouts that are only a year old The scions should be a n little longer than the space which Is s to be bridged so they will arch slightly over the central part of the wound Bevel the scions at each end of the same side of the scion with a long sloping cut so that the wedge-shaped wedge I ends thus formed will be relatively thin and permit their being thrust well under the bark without danger of separating separating sep sep- It unduly from the cambium at atthe atthe I the points of Insertion The pla placing ing of the scions will wUl be facilitated If the tile bark at the margins of the wound is I slit silt for tor a short distance at the points points' where the ends are to be Inserted Placing Scions I In placing the scions It Is of the greatest Importance that the cambium of the scions which Is exposed In the sloping cuts at the ends be brought into intimate contact with the cambium cam cam- blum that lies under the tine bark at the margins of the wounded area The union of scion and tree can occur only only where the cambium layers of the two come together The scions may be secured In their proper positions If need be by driving a small nail through each end Into the trunk This will aid in drawing the cambium of scion and trunk closely together The operation is completed by thoroughly thoroughly thoroughly thor thor- covering the area occupied by bythe bythe bythe the ends of ot the scions and the margins margins mar mar margins gins of the wound with grafting wax strips of ot waxed cloth or by some other other other oth oth- er means menns that adequately will prevent these parts parts from drying out Some operators operators operators op op- cover the entire wound scions and all with melted wax Where the bridged portion is below or near the ground many operators conserve mois mols moisture moisture ture by covering the grafts with earth Another Method Where the wound is so large as to tomake tomake tomake make ordinary bridge grafting ImpossIble Impossible sible another method of bridging may mayhe maylie Ue lie used year Two-year-old tr trees es are planted plant plant- ed about tl the e base of the injured trees and und their tops grafted Into Its trunk I above the girdled space which has first been cleaned as In the other meth meth- od As tha tops of ot the small trees are too large to manipulate readily in the manner described for scions shaped V-shaped vertical grooves extending through the cambium are cut just above the wounded wound ed area in the bark of the tree to be treated The tops of the small trees are shaped to correspond with the these e grooves groo The Th two are then accurately fitted together In such a manner as to tiring g the cambium of one Into contact with that of the other Small nails nalls may be driven through the tops of the trees into the trunk to hold the parts firmly together The wounds Incident to joining the tops of the small trees to the trunk of tile Uie large one should be well covered with war wax to pr prevent vent drying out Sometimes cord Is tied around the trunk to aid In holding the tops of the young trees In proper po po- While bridge grafting Is seldom used on shade or other ornamental trees VF W. W F. F Fletcher the author of a most Instructive instructive in In- instructive bulletin on Bridge Grafting No which has been recently issued by the United States department department department depart depart- ment of ot agriculture writes that this method of grafting would probably prove successful In overcoming certain types s of injuries to them It is certainly certainly well worth trying |