752 



THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Methods Of Grafting. The science of grafting is based upon the ability to produce 

 a union between the tissues or forming matter of the growing wood. In order to accomplish 

 this, the parts should be placed in perfect contact, so that the sap of the stalk, in ascending, 

 passes directly into the scion, thus sustaining its life. The buds of the latter, 

 being thus stimulated, begin to put out, woody fibers are formed between the 

 parts in contact, which eventually unite the graft firmly to the stalk. De 

 Candolle says in relation to this union: &quot;If the descending sap has only an 

 incomplete analogy with, the wants of the stock, the latter does not thrive, though 

 the organic union may have taken place; and if the analogy between the albumen 

 of stock and scion is wanting, the organic union does not operate, the scion cannot 

 absorb the sap of the stock, and the graft fails.&quot; There are various methods 

 of grafting, among the principal of which are whip or tongue, cleft grafting, 

 splice grafting, saddle grafting, side grafting, root grafting, budding, etc. 



Whip or Tongue Grafting. This is one of the most common methods 

 of grafting, and is very easily performed. The scion and branch to be grafted 

 are first cut in a sloping manner, upward on the stock, and downward on the 

 scion, being made to correspond so that when placed together the bark of the two 

 joins evenly. The knife is then passed upward in the scion, and downward in 

 the stock, forming a sliced -tongue appearance, as represented in the cut, the 

 incision serving to hold the scion in place when properly placed. They are then 

 bound together with a narrow strip of cloth (about half an inch), which is wound 

 tightly around the stock, while the whole is finished by covering with a coat of 

 grafting wax (about half an inch thick), extending it fully an inch above and 

 below the wound. This excludes the air and moisture, and prevents drying and 

 loss of sap where the wound has been made. There are other methods of whip 

 grafting; for instance, where the scion does not correspond in size with the stock, when the 

 former is joined at the side or at the end of the stock, according to the comparative size of 

 the two. 



Cleft Grafting. This method of grafting is frequently practiced on largo stocks, or 

 trees, the branches of which are too large for whip grafting. The stock to be grafted is first 

 sawed off horizontally, and made smooth with a knife or sharp chisel. A cleft is then made 

 in the stock about two inches deep. This may be done with 

 a splitting knife and hammer or wooden mallet. The scions are 

 then cut at the lower end in the form of a wedge, the wedge being 

 made about an inch and a half long, leaving it a little thicker on 

 the outer edge, and so trimmed that the bud is left on the outside 

 and close to the junction of the stock and graft. The scion should 

 also be left two or three inches beyond the bud, to prevent the 

 latter from withering by the drying up of the wood. The cleft is 

 then opened with a small chisel or splitting knife, and the scions 

 carefully inserted at each end of the cleft, when the stock is large, 

 fitting the inner bark of the scion to that of the stock. As the 

 chisel is withdrawn, the scions are held firmly in place. After CLEFT GRAFTING. 



being thus set, the end of the limb and sides of the cleft should be 



well covered with grafting wax, and the whole bound up. The point to be gained in cleft 

 grafting, as well as all other methods, is to have the inner bark of the scion exactly meet the 

 inner bark of the branch upon which it is grafted, for unless a perfect fit is made the sap of 

 the stock will not nourish the graft, and consequently it will soon shrink and die. 



WHIP OB 



TONGUE 

 GRAFTING. 



