50 



bark and down to the wood, one and one-lialf inches long, under- 

 cutting the bark slightly to the left and sbinting the cut very slightly 

 to the right. Now hold the butt end of the scion alongside this cut 

 and make another similar cut to the right of the first so that between 

 the two cuts a tongue of bark will be marked out, of the same width 

 as the scion, slightl}^ undercut at both sides, and slightly tapering 

 toward the lower end. With practice a very accurate fit can be made. 

 When the tongue of bark lias been tliu.s marked out, but before it is 

 raised, proceed to prepare the scion. With the pruning shears cut 

 the scion five or six inches long. If too short it is difficult to hold in 

 the hand while cutting the scarf. The scions should have two or more 

 good buds, not necessarily lar;g;e buds nor terminal buds. Hold the 

 scion in tlie left hand firml}' witli the butt pointing away from the 

 body. Hold the knife in the riglit hand with the tliumb across the 

 fingers as in making a fist, not on the back of the knife. Apply 

 the edge of the knife to the scion an incli and a half from the butt. 

 Then, holding the handle of the knife forward as far as possible 

 toward the butt of the scion so as to make a draw cut, not a shove or 

 push cut, make a scarf an inch long or longer w^ith one stroke of the 

 knife. This is easy to do witli practice if the knife is very sharp and 

 bevelled on the upper edge, as already described, and if done with a 

 strong draw cut. This leaves the scion with a clean, true scarf an 

 inch long or longer, terminating in a point. It is usual, but not 

 necessary, to turn tlie scion over and cut a thin slice from the last 

 quarter inch of the tip, just cutting through the bark to the wood but 

 not making a heavy bevel. 



Now with the tip of the knife sliglitly raise the upper end of the 

 tongue of bark on the stock and insert the point of the scion with the 

 cut surface toward the wood of the stock. Push the scion, or tap it 

 with the blade of the knife held flat, downward until it settles firmly 

 into place. Slice off the projecting tongue of bark nearly level with 

 the general surface of the stock. This dovetailing of the scion into 

 the stock should hold it firmly in place. W^hen the bark of the stock 

 is thick it is possible to dispense with tying, if the fit is perfect. But 

 it is always safer to tie the scion firmly in place with raffia or soft 

 cord. Have the raffia slightly moist. Take two or three turns of the 

 raffia close to the edge of the stock, binding the scion tightly to the 

 wood. Continue the winding with two or three turns around the stock 

 at the level of the upper end of the tongue of bark where it was cut 



