There are two main ways to go about fruit tree propagation. The first, and the one which usually comes first to mind, is propagation from seed. This occurs when the pollen from a one tree fertilizes the flower of another. The resulting fruit contains the seed, or seeds which may propagate the new fruit tree.
While this occurs continuously in nature and school room science classes it is not considered realistic for commercial fruit tree propagation. The seed may for example be from two apple trees but it is comprised of the traits of both. With each succeeding generation of seeds the gene pool is muddied just a bit more. What is sought after from a commercial standpoint is a purer lineage to the original tree. For this, a procedure referred to as grafting is used.
The method of fruit tree propagation we call grafting is hardly a modern concept. It is thought to have been invented in ancient China. From there it followed the rise of civilization through Greece and Rome.
The grafting process involves the joining of two separate components. The first is the rootstock which is a section of root. The type selected is determined by a range of desired characteristics. These characteristics may include how it tolerates the target soil composition, how hardy it is, and how well it resists local pests and diseases.
The second component is called the scion. This is the upper part which grows out of the soil. Both sections must be joined together to ensure successful fruit tree propagation.
The two most popular grafting methods are "budding" and "whip and tongue". One of the basic guidelines in determining which method to use is what time of the year the grafting is taking place. If the propagation of the fruit trees is scheduled for the springtime when plants are coming out of their dormant state, the whip and tongue method is used. Conversely, at mid-summer the preferred method is budding.
Generally speaking though, budding is the most frequently used method and all stone fruit tree propagation is carried out this way.
The techniques are very similar and involve continuous contact between the sub-bark layers of the two components until the two have grown together. Through the careful monitoring of propagating fruit trees, we now are able to enjoy our favorite standardized fruits as well as exciting new hybrids.