226 



AMERICAN VINES. 



(a) Whip-tongue Graft. Stock and scion are both spliced 

 in the same manner (Fig. 97) ; both sections should have 

 perfectly corresponding outlines and sur- 

 faces, therefore stock and scion should be 

 of the same diameter. The stock, rooted 

 or not, is cut level at its upper extremity 

 as close as possible to the node, for, as we 

 have already said, it is at that point that 

 the knitting tissue is formed with the 

 greatest facility. The length of the splice 

 depends on the size of the cane. Generally, 

 the section is made at an angle of 14 

 degrees for thin canes, so as to allow it to 

 be long enough to secure a strong grip, 

 and 17 degrees for stout canes. It is 

 usually made by hand with a grafting- 

 knife (Figs. 94 to 98), the section being cut 

 neatly and without bruised edges. It can 

 also be made by means of special machines, 

 which all have the capital fault of requir- 

 ing, like the knife, a long apprenticeship 

 from the operator, without greatly increas- 

 ing the rapidity of the work, and generally 

 giving defective sections and bruising the 

 tissues. When made with the knife, the 

 sections must be cut with one sweep, if 

 not, the section is more or less irregular or 

 Fig. 97 . stock and bruised; concave must be preferred to 

 whi>toSu?^tf the convex surfaces, for they render the 

 assemblage easier and firmer. The splice 

 once made, a longitudinal slit parallel to the fibre of 

 the wood, and 6 mm. (^-inch) at least in depth, is made 

 with the same knife. When taking the blade out of the 

 slit, a slight rotary movement is given to the knife so as 



Fig. 98. Preparation of Stock for the whip-tongue graft. 



