164 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the buds of, the stocks begin to swell. If need be, the latter may 

 be grafted later, even until the buds have swollen considerably, or 

 have leaved out : or if more convenient it raay be done a month 

 before they swell. As a matter of curiosity, grafting has been 

 performed successfully in every month in the year. 



Numerous methods of grafting have been practiced, but as a 

 few of the simpler ones will serve all the purposes of the orchard- 

 ist, these onlj^ will be described. 



Cleft Grafling. This is the method most commonly in use to 

 change the tops of grown trees. The limb is sawn off and the 

 end smoothly pared with a knife. Then with a grafting knife 



and hammer it is cleft in the centre and 

 kept open by a wedge. Tlio scion is cut 

 smoothly on both sides in the form of a 

 wedge, for an inch to two inches, or as 

 long as can be nicely fitted to the cleft. 

 Cut so as to leave a bud just above the 

 scarf, and the scion maybe cut long enough 

 to have two or three other buds above that 

 one. Very large scions may be cut with 

 shoulders, to avoid too wide a cleft. In 

 setting the scion in the stock, be careful 

 that the line of union between the wood and 

 the hark of each coincide exactly. If the 

 stock be wide enough for two scions, insert 

 another on the other side, in the same way ; 

 then withdraw the wedge and cover the wound with grafting wax 

 to exclude the air perfectly. If inserted long before growth com- 

 mences, it is well, also, to wax the end of the scion. If only one 

 scion is inserted, the stock may be cut away on the other side be- 

 fore applying the wax. If two are inserted and both grow, cut 

 the weaker one away after a year or two, as otherwise there is 

 danger that the limb eventually will split down. The most im- 

 portant points in all grafting are, to have similar parts nicely adajHed 

 to each, other, so that the sap may pass uninternqytedly from one to 

 the other ; and next, that the parts be properly protected until a 

 perfect junction is. formed. 



Splice Grafting. This is used chiefly in the nursery and upon 

 .small stocks. It is also employed when we desire to obtain fruit 

 as soon as possible from a seedling variety. For the latter purpose 

 a scion is grafted upon the end of a limb of a grown tree. In this 



(a). Sci6n ready for in- 

 tertioii. (i). Stock witli 

 two scions inserted. 



