Notes
This photo demonstrates a "bridge graft" on an apple tree. Bridge grafts are used to provide nutrients to the tree when the trunk has been damaged. I can't see the damage, so perhaps this was purely for demonstration purposes, or perhaps there is another use for bridge grafts. As there are many HHR readers with real orchard experience, I'll leave it to you to fill in the details.
The Mason's Liberty Home Orchard was in many ways a proving ground for agricultural techniques. We have many images showing heavily bearing trees of various ages and varieties, as well as demonstrations of pruning and spraying techniques of the era. They must have been successful, as the 1907 report of the Oregon State Horticulture Board boasted:
The success of Mr. A. I. Mason, of Hood River, this year in this line is worthy of note. Every tree was hand thinned and thoroughly sprayed all season, and the result was only sixty-four wormy apples in 1,100 boxes, by actual count, or less than one-half of one per cent. The per cent of small apples was equally trifling.
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Comments
I have played around a little bit with grafting, but I know nothing about it. So I'm hoping you HR people do some explaining about this strange looking graft.
I was wondering if this could have been a result of the trees that had to be... "cut down and grafted to proper varieties",...after the crooked nurseryman sold Albert the wrong trees.
l.e. on 26th April 2012 @ 7:15am
What do you think the "arrow" is on the tree, at near top, right of center? Is it cut into the bark or is it just on the plate/film?
Ranger on 26th April 2012 @ 10:02am
Amazing eye Ranger...Yes - what is that?
Connie on 26th April 2012 @ 1:03pm
The "arrow" looks like where they tried to insert a bud (rather than a graft) and the transplant did not take. I've budded trees for my Dad. You make a "t" shaped cut and under the bark insert a single bud taken from another variety of tree.
Jeffrey Bryant on 26th April 2012 @ 6:56pm
As stated in the notes, a bridge graft was made when a tree's trunk was winter damaged to bridge the gap between the good and damaged wood.
Jeffrey Bryant on 27th April 2012 @ 3:36am
A. I. Mason was a strong advocate of good roads and electrical utilities. Efforts to bring affordable electricity to Hood River were underway in 1914, and eventually led to the Hood River Electric CO-Op.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn97071110/1914-03-26/ed-1/seq-1/
Jeffrey W Bryant on 11th February 2020 @ 4:17am