Grafting practice in Maltese agriculture

Abstract

Grafting is a professional work, which requires a lot of experience, love and dedication. It is an art as well as a science as it requires an understanding of tree anatomy as well as physiology. There are some standard methods however in various occasions the grafter has to modify according to his knowledge and experience. In Malta, the teaching of grafting was almost inexistent and the art was often passed from father to son. However as new grafting technologies are introduced, interested persons can be trained by qualified technicians at the MRAE. In Malta most of the grafting techniques are used, however the most commonly practiced are cleft grafting, T-budding and to a lesser extent the Omega graft.