28 OBSERVATIONS ON GRAFTING. 



CLEFT GRAFTING. This mode of grafting is generally 

 practised on stocks of from one to two inches in diameter, 

 and may be performed in the following manner : Let the 

 head of the stock be carefully sawed off at a part free from 

 knots, and the top pared smooth ; then with a thin knife 

 split down the stock through the centre to the depth of about 

 two inches, and insert a wedge to keep it open for the 

 reception of the scion. The scion must be prepared in the 

 form of a wedge, with an eye, if possible, in the upper part, 

 and inserted carefully, so that the inner bark of the scion 

 and of the stock may both exactly meet. Large stocks 

 require two scions, one on each side, and sometimes four 

 are inserted. When done, tie them firmly together with 

 bass, and then cover the grafted part with well-prepared 

 clay, in an oval form, and close it securely. 



SIDE GRAFTING. This mode is sometimes practised on 

 those parts of a tree where a limb is wanting. There are 

 two ways in which it may be performed. 1st. The scion 

 may be prepared in the same manner as for splice grafting, 

 and the bark and wood on the side of the stock cut sloping ; 

 the scion being then adjusted as carefully as possible, it must 

 be bound on and covered with clay. 2d. The scion being 

 cut sloping, a cross-cut is to be made in the side of the tree 

 on the top of a perpendicular slit ; the bark of a tree above 

 the cross-cut must be pared down slanting to the wood, and 

 the bark raised as in budding; the scion being then inserted, 

 it must be bound fast, and covered with clay. 



SPLICE, OR WHIP GRAFTING. This mode is often practised 

 on small stocks, and it succeeds best when the scion and 

 stock are of an equal size. The scion, which should consist 

 of young wood of the former year's growth, may be cut to 

 the length of about four inches. This and the stock are 

 each to be cut sloping, for an inch or more, and tongued. 

 Tongueing consists in cutting a slit in the middle of the slope 

 of the stock downward, and a corresponding slit in the scion 

 upward ; both are now to be joined, so that one of the sides, 



