Cornell University is offering a hands-on, distance education course, "The How, When and Why of Grafting for Gardeners," which will teach universal criteria for grafting and techniques such as chip budding, T-budding and top-wedge grafting.

The noncredit course, developed by Ken Mudge, Cornell professor of horticulture, includes Web-based multimedia lectures, video demonstrations, hands-on grafting with live plants, online quizzes and interactive discussions.

Students also will learn to propagate plants that do not root easily, graft several fruit varieties onto a tree and create unusual growth forms, such as tree peonies and arborisculpture.

The course will be taught from March 15 to May 23, 2004. The registration deadline is March 8, and the cost is $300. Students will receive live hibiscus plants used in laboratory exercises, plus grafting knives and supplies. Enrollment is limited to 40 students and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hands-on experience will be featured. "Grafting isn't something you can just read about. You have to do it," says Mudge. Students will use an online discussion board to share questions, talk with other students and interact with the instructor.

The course is intended for experienced gardeners or professional horticulturists who have completed a high school or college biology course. Students from previous sessions estimate the course work takes about four to eight hours each week. While specific topics are covered during each of the 10 weeks, students can complete their work anytime during that week. Students will need ready access to a computer, the Internet and e-mail. Hardware and software requirements include a Pentium or Macintosh computer with a CD-ROM drive, Internet access (56.6K modem minimum), a Java-capable browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer, version 4.0 or higher) and the free QuickTime plug-in, version 4.0 or higher. A high-speed Internet connection, while helpful, is not needed because the high-bandwidth course materials are included on a CD. For information and registration, visit http://www.hort.cornell.edu/grafting or call (607) 255-1794