North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Gene Spears <Spears@LMC.edu>]

Looking for some advice.   I'm teaching General Botany this semester (a 
sophomore college class) and wanted to end with a lab on grafting.  Last lab 
will be the end of November, so time may be too late already.  I have about 
23 students.  I can get parafilm and exacto-type scapels within a few days, 
but could I get the rootstocks and scion within that time frame?  (I'm in 
NC.)  

Was planning to have each student do two grafts so they could take their 
grafts home and plant a couple of trees - two would ensure pollination.  So 
say about 50 rootstocks and maybe twice that many scion?  

Some questions?

1) Good sources with quick delivery?
2) Two good varieties that would cross-pollinate and required little care?
3) About how much would it cost?

Me teaching grafting is like a one-eyed man leading the blind, but I'm hoping 
an indoor setting with sterile (somewhat) conditions and bench-grafting (mine 
has always been out in the yard) would improve my sorry success rate - and 
maybe the students will be better than I am.

Thanks for any advice!

Gene Spears
Zone 6 - NW NC