GRAFTING 93 



water, the needful finishing can be done without scalding 

 the finger. The wax is first put on with a flat stick, 

 rubbed on both sides of the graft. 



When the buds have made growths about 8 inches 

 long, they require to be tied to the upper portion of the 

 stock above the bud. This is done by looping one round 

 of the matting on the outer side of the growth, with 

 two rounds encircling the stock ; this leaves the needful 

 free space for the bud growth to expand. In grafts, the 

 growths require to be tied to a stake placed close to the 

 stock, to keep them upright and to prevent the wind 

 Breaking the graft away from the stock. The snag of 

 the stock above the bud should be cut away in October, 

 in a slanting direction, to allow the new growths to swell 

 over the stock and make a perfect union. In grafts, the 

 wedge-shaped snag should be cut away for the same 

 purpose. 



The scions which it is proposed to graft should be cut 

 in January or February and be tied in bundles of not more 

 than twelve, then laid in by the heels one-third of their 

 length in soil or sand in a shady position. This is done 

 to make them " hungry " or partially dried, in order that 

 they may more readily absorb the sap from the stock when 

 grafted. 



Where it is proposed to graft old trees, the boughs 

 should be sawn off below the branches in February. On 

 standards and dwarfs or bushes, the smaller boughs can 

 be grafted, or, if espaliers, the arms must be cut back to 

 i foot of the central stem. Tongue grafting, as advised 

 for dwarf stocks, can be practised on small boughs, but on 

 the larger ones an opening is made with a chisel and the 



