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News from Garfield Farm |
CAMPTON HILLS, IL: Learn how to grow your own antique apple trees at
Garfield Farm Museum’s 23rd annual Apple Tree Grafting Seminar on
Sunday, March 7 at 1:30pm. Participants take home 3 tree grafts
of heirloom nursery stock variety to plant in the spring. Tree expert
Dan Bussey leads the seminar and will bring several different varieties
of scions from his orchard in Edgerton, WI where he propagates over 350
rare and endangered varieties.
What makes the grafting process so important is that
it attaches a young root to the old stock or scion, preserving the old
stock’s unique genetic traits. An apple seed may not grow into
the same exact type of tree from which it came. Like animals, most
plants, such as apple trees, require genes from two parents. Just
planting the seeds of a tree doesn’t guarantee the genetic
signature of the tree will be saved. Only grafting can preserve the
exact type. The grafting process itself has been used for thousands of
years. The process itself is relatively simple. A small branch or scion
of the desired tree is attached to a small rootstock. The root used for
the seminar is a smaller, dwarf variety that is good for a backyard or
small orchard.
Different varieties of apples are good for various
things. For instance some are better for cider, while others may be
better for baking. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there
were over 7000 different varieties of apples. Now there are less then
2000 varieties available. Not only is keeping a multitude of apples in
existence important for our heritage, but also for their many of uses.
The mass markets of today are looking for good multi-purpose apples.
With the farmer population and orchard acreage dwindling it is
important to be pro-active.
Dan Bussey has been the instructor of the seminar
since its inception over twenty years ago. His efforts have been
recognized by the Seed Saver’s Exchange of Decorah, IA, which had
its own conservation orchard of heritage apple varieties. Mr. Bussey
will bring scions to graft to root stock that is raised especially for
grafting. He can also instruct participants on how to care for
their grafts until they are planted. If time allows, the group will go
out to the museum's orchard and given instruction on pruning their
trees once they are established.
There is a $30 donation for the
class and reservations are required. Participants are asked to bring a
sharp knife for cutting. Call the museum at (630) 584-8485, or email at
info@garfieldfarm.org. Garfield Farm Museum is located 5 miles west of
Geneva, IL off ILL Rt. 38 on Garfield Road. The 370-acre site is a
historically intact former 1840s farm and teamster inn being restored
as an 1840s working farm museum by volunteers and donors from around
the country.