Ontario Fruit Explorers

["joe calico" <jcalico@sympatico.ca>]

Tom, I did read about graffe of plums on "nut-tree stocks".  Although I
can't prove it, I am almost certain that the term 'nut' refers here to the
almond tree.  It is a fact that almond is compatible with the stone fruits
like plum, peach, apricot, etc. In fact, as a young kid growing up in
Portugal I remember an uncle of mine (God rest his soul) who had a bout 5
acres of almond trees growing in a rather arid setting (the Algarve -
southern Portugal is sub Saharan).  In any case, his almonds would survive
the long hot summers unirrigated.  However, plums, peaches, etc would not.
What he did was to graft many different varieties of stone fruits onto
almonds and thus was able to have a plethora of fruit varieties without
irrigating.  Clever or what.

Anyway, my elders always maintained that it was impossible to graft the
apple/pear/quince family onto the stone fruit family and vice versa.  But,
who knows ...

As for other compatible families, certainly I have experience with pears,
apples and quince grafting onto one another.  I believe sorbus is also
compatible but I have never grafted that one.

As we all know, there are many other groupings with close enough brothers
that they will graft onto one another.  One that comes to mind here and
which I work quite a bit is lilacs onto privet hedge; yes privet hedge.  As
you may know one of the problems of lilacs is that they sucker like crazy
and instead of ending up with a lilac tree you end up with a ticket.
Lilacks are also susceptible to lilac borer.  However, graft a lilac onto a
privet rootstock and the problem is resolved.

Another example that comes to mind is the affinity between meddlers and
hawthorn.  A buddy of mine in Chicago does just that.  In fact, about three
weeks ago I received one of his prized hawthorn fruits by snail mail.  Oops,
did I just say that?  I hope Margie isn't listening.

Joe 

-----Original Message-----
From: labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:labruscagrape-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Thomas Olenio
Sent: November 20, 2006 7:33 AM
To: Ontario Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [OFEX] Grafting

On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 18:46:11 -0500, joe calico <jcalico@sympatico.ca>  
wrote:

>  Who ever heard of grafting plums onto apple rootstock?

Hi,

The author was Pliny the Elder and it comes from his encyclopedia "The  
History of the World" which documented knowledge of the time.  Hed died in  
Pompeii, his curiosity getting the better of him.  While others fled from  
the area, he travelled towards it.

Pliny also wrote; "But there is a peculiar braverie and a shamelesse,  
which those Plums have by themselves that are graffed in Nut-tree stocks;  
they retaine the face and forme still of the mother graffe, but they get  
the tast of the stocke wherein they are set, as it were by way of  
adoption: of them both they carrie the name, and are called Nut-plums."

In know that "compatabiltiy" is the issue.  The same issue that dwarfs  
apple trees.  I also know my great grandmother grafted pear onto apple,  
and it survived many years.  She was the wonder of the neighborhood.  The  
graft broke off during the hurricane of 1938 I believe.

Regarding Pliny...  Maybe something is lost in translation, but as  
translated it sounds pretty matter of fact, how they accomplished it, or  
if they were "nut" stocks as we understand them I do not know.

During Pliny's time "nut-stocks" may have been common knowledge and not a  
nut at all.  However, it makes a person wonder.

I have written in the past about Cato who gives detailed instructions for  
grafting, and he is specific about wrapping the graft in Greek Willow.   
Willow is now known to contain hormones that inspire callousing, and  
rooting.

They had no research centers then, just trial and error, and observation.

Later,
Tom


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