284 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



two of the best of which we shall illustrate 

 and describe. They are both performed under 

 ground. The earth is removed from around the 

 stock of the plant, so as to lay it bare some six 

 or eight inches, as shown at A in Fig. 111. The 



Fig. 111. 



stock is cut square off four or five inches be 

 neath the surface. The graft is then prepared 

 by cutting it wedge-shaped at the bottom. It 

 should have two buds, one of which should be 

 between the wedge, as shown at b on the left of 

 the figure : the^ other bud being on the opposite 

 side, is not seen. The split through the middle 

 of the stock should be made with a thin-bladed 

 knife, and held open with a thin-pointed stick 

 while the graft is inserted in its place, so that 

 the bark of the stock and graft meet on the 

 outside edges. The operation completed is 

 shown in the engraving. A strip of bast 

 should be bound around the stock sufficiently 

 firm to keep the graft in its place. 



The success of the operation depends very 

 much upon keeping the graft in its place ; great 



