GRAFTING AND NURSERIES. 



237 



ing it slightly, so as to increase its strength. The strands 

 should not touch one another, and as they are wound down 

 the graft the left hand is moved to make room for them. 



" When the bottom of the joint is 

 reached, the next thing is to tie the raffia. 

 The best way of doing this is to fix the 

 last strand with the index finger of the left 

 hand underneath. With the right hand, a 

 large loop is formed with the rest of the 

 raffia, fixing the extremity of the raffia 

 with the left thumb in front of the 

 joint. 



' The right hand now being free, the 

 portion of the raffia that was held by the 

 index finger of the left hand is taken and 

 brought over the extremity held by the left 

 thumb. 



" Then turn the loop twice over the end 

 held by the thumb, passing it each time 

 over the free end of the scion. Finally, 

 while the last turn is held in position by Ligatm-eof'an 

 the left index finger, the end of the raffia Aglet Graft, 

 released from the left thumb is pulled tight 

 with the right hand, the loop disappears and the ligature is 

 thus secured." 



Other methods, of course, may be adopted, especially 

 when the grafts are being made on a growing stock. The 

 main point is to secure sufficient solidity, so that any shock 

 the graft is likely to be subjected to may be withstood. It 

 has already been said that the strands or spirals of raffia 

 should not touch each other (Figs. 117 to 121). Between 

 these intervals the callus, not being compressed, develops 

 in large masses, which insure from the start the formation 

 of a good joint. 



The use of cork sheathing has been recommended, in place 

 of lead-foil, but, although good, it is expensive and its use 

 troublesome. Finally, corks (Fig. 123) perforated along 

 their axis, and cut in halves, have been used. The joint is 

 completely surrounded by the cork, which is held in position 

 by iron wire. The execution of this binding is tedious ; it is 

 very expensive, and, although it gives great solidity to the 

 joint, it prevents its increase in diameter, and therefore the 



