The mail ways to breeding of bonsai trees are Yamadori (collections from mountains), Misho (seedling), Sashiki (cutting), Tsugiki (graft), and Toriki (layering). The number of Yamadori (collections from mountains) decreased drastically and it is difficult for Misho (seedling) to be characterful. On the other hand, trees can breed with same natures of mother trees by Sashiki (cutting) and Tsugiki (graft). Ayada Tadashi, the owner of Ryoshoen Bonsai Garden in Takamatsu’s Kokubunji town, told us the attraction of Tsugiki (graft).

Season come earlier by global warming

It is said that the best season for Tsugiki (graft) of pine tree is from mid-February to mid-March. But, because of the recent global warming, it starts in late January. Ayada, regarded as master of Tsugiki (graft), always do the work during the period.

The recent popular varieties are “Kotobuki Yatsufusa” and “Sunsho” of Kuromatsu (Japanese black pine), and “Hebinome” and “Orizuru” of Akamatsu (Japanese red pine). “Orizuru” is a variety whose needles bend like a orizuru (paper crane).

There is a mother tree of Kotobuki Yatsufusa named “Senjumaru” in Ayada’s field. The lower part is Kotobuki, but upper part became Kotobuki Yatsufusa by mutation. Many seedlings grew from this mother tree.

Need knowledge

Two-years-old Kuromatsu Misho (Japanese black pine grown from seed) trees are often used for Tsugiki (graft) as stock. There are many ways of Tsugiki (graft) such as “Teitsugi” which puts a tree having a diagonally cut to base of the root, “Takatsugi” which puts a tree to cleft at the tip of a stock, and “Mikitsugi” which grafts a tree to unbranched or withered part of trunk. The best part of Tsugiki (graft) is to get the measure of the natures of stocks and grafts and cultivate seedling with potential in various ways.

As important points of Tsugiki (graft), Ayada gave four points: knowledge, experience, technique and sense. He said most important thing is to have knowledge of best season, condition of stocks and grafts, and cares.

The difficult work of Tsugiki (graft) is to make the joint naturally. Of course, it needs advanced technique and experience.

（By Shigeo Hano）