610 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct.. 1917. 



should not follow the grain of the wood, but should be slanted in such a way 

 that the tongue will Ije about one-half as thick as it would be if made by split- 

 ting. Before withdrawing the knife, it is Ijont over in order to open out the 

 tongue. This very much facilitates the placing together of stock and scion. 



Such was the older whip-tongue graft. Within the last ten years 

 it has undergone considerable modification, mainly in the direction of 

 a much shorter bevel, a change which constitutes a very considerable 

 improvement for bench grafting, and which can also be applied when the 

 whip-tongue graft is practised in the field. The main object of the 

 change was the svippression of the tie, necessary in connexion with the 

 older form, thus permitting a saving of time, and ensuring more 

 thoroiigh callusing, and therefore a more perfect union. The improved 

 method was described somewhat fully by M. L. Lebrunf, from whose 

 article the following extract has been translated. 



After pointing out that the older type of whip-tongue grift is easily disjointed 

 unless solidly tied; that during the operation of tying a certain amount of dis- 

 placement, detrimental to success, often occurs; and that the liinding sulistances 

 in general use are far from perfect, he proceeds to deserilje how 11. Charmont, 

 Sen., of the nursery firm of Charmont and Sons, of Saint-Clement-Les-M;icon. at 

 a meeting of the Horticultural Society of Saone et Loire, held in 18S5, pointed 

 out the drawbacks of tying, and suggested the desirability of obtaining a more 

 solid graft by means of stouter tongues and deeper clefts. Shortly afterwards 

 one of his workmen evolved the wished-for graft, which immediately came into 

 general use. Stocks and scions are selected and prepared in the same way as 

 previously; it is the graft only that differs. M. Lebruu describes this as fol- 

 lows : — 



" To prepare a tie-less graft, all that is necessary is to modify the sections 

 and the clefts of the ordinary whip-tongue graft. A clean, straight, absolutely 

 plain section is made with a single movement of the grafting knife. The bevel 

 thus made is at an angle of about 38°, and the lengtli of the section is scarcely 

 double its breadth. Thus is obtained a shorter be\el, at a less acute angle thaii 

 for the ordinary graft, but the most noticealile difference is to be found in the 

 mode of making the cleft. Instead of applying the knife blade at the upper 

 third of- the section (Fig. 7), it is almost at tlic top of the bevel that the cut 

 must be started. Further, the cut must not be made to follow the fibres of the 

 Wood, or l)e approximately parallel to the axis of the cane, but it must be made 

 oblic|ucly. following a direction practically parallel with the bisectri.x of the 

 bevel angle. A cleft is thus made about one centimetre (.39 inch) deep, the 

 chief merit of which is to provide a stout tongue. Fig. 7 shows where and 

 how the grafting knife should be applied and directed 



" Stock and scion are prepared in exactly similar manner. Although experi- 

 ments by different nurserymen prove that, whether the section be started just 

 below an eye or on the opposite side, has no influence on knitting, the cut should 

 be started on the bud side; a more solid graft results, and the grafter is better 

 able to examine the condition of the bud .... The fitting together of stock 

 and scion is quite easily effected, the tongues being pressed home into the clefts 

 made to receive them. 



" The new departure is certainly more favoiu-aljle to knitting; drying out 

 of the points of the Ijevels is much less to be feared, and the depth of the clefts 

 multiplies the points of contact (of cambium sections) which are more numer- 

 ous tlian with the old style. Furthermore, the absence of the tie increases the 

 chance of success. Binding prevented the grafts from decapitation in handling, 

 but want of care in binding often disunited camliiums carefully fitted together 



by the grafter, and was often the sole cause of bad unions and failures 



The new graft permits dispensing with useless manipulations, which were not 

 without disadvantages; it has rapidly conquered all workshops (for bench 

 grafting) and the tic, which has caused so much worry, and given rise to so 

 much discussion, will soon be completely forgotten." 



t Li grefle s.iiis ligature (The tie-less graft) by SI. L. Lebrun. Professeur departementa I 

 d'rtgrtculture ile SiiOne et Loire — Progr^s agricole, 17tli ,A.pril, IfllO. 



