From heffron@falstaff.css.beckman.comMon May  5 23:27:26 1997
Date: 5 MAY 1997 16:02:52 -0700 
From: Matt Heffron <heffron@falstaff.css.beckman.com>
Newsgroups: alt.agriculture.fruit, rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Grafting Apple Tree 

In <dcline-2804971803130001@pm8-26.sba.silcom.com> dcline@silcom.com (Richard Cline) writes:

>In article <5k2oto$knj@fido.asd.sgi.com>, schaem@velo.asd.sgi.com (Greg Schaem) wrote:

>> In about 2 months I have to cut down a mature Fuji apple tree because it is in the
>> way of new construction.  Can I cut a scion from this tree and graft it onto one 
>> of the other 5 apple trees in my yard?  How is it done?
[...]
>> Greg

>Apples are pretty easy to graft.  There are several grafting techniques
>that work, the cleft graft, the whip graft, etc.  There are lots of books
>that provide detial on the grafting steps.  Keep the grafted joint cool
>and moist (White paint over tight plastic wrapping.)  

>The grafting should be done about the time the tree is starting to leaf
>out.  This doesn't make it impossible to succeed later in the season but
>it reduces the chance of success.  As a bottom line --  you probably do
>not have anything to lose by trying several grafts.  

Greg,
  Richard is correct in that the preferred time to graft deciduous fruit
trees is when they are just coming out of winter dormancy.  Also, it IS
POSSIBLE that a graft done now would be successful.  However, another,
probably better, option is to "bud" the Fuji onto another tree. Budding
(also called "bud grafting") is normally done at this time, when the tree
is actively growing.  It is *slightly* more difficult than scion grafting.

Since your email address indicates that you are at SGI, I'm going to assume
that you are in Northern California. :-)  If I'm right, then you should 
check out the California Rare Fruit Growers local chapter(s) in your area.
They will probably be having budding workshops pretty soon now, and can show
you how to do the budding.  

Check out the "Local Chapters" info on the CRFG web site at:

       http://www.crfg.org/chapters.html

Good luck,
Matt Heffron
CRFG
-- 
Matt Heffron           heffron@falstaff.css.beckman.com
Beckman Instruments, Inc.         voice: (714) 961-3128
2500 N. Harbor Blvd. MS X-10, Fullerton, CA 92834-3100 (new zipcode!)
I don't speak for Beckman Instruments (or CRFG) unless they say so.

