PROPAGATION 



slit, then the seedling, being released, springs back 

 into position securely pinching and holding the 

 cion. For greater security the graft may be wound 

 with soft cloth or grafting twine. 



The cions on these grafts should begin to make 

 strong growth by the middle or last of May. As 

 soon as this stage is reached the seedling stocks 

 should be cut off with a pair of strong shears just 



above the point of 



union. At the same 

 time it will be well to 

 cut any bandages or 

 ties which were put on 

 when the grafts were 

 set. 



THE NURSE-GRAFT 



Of the hundreds of 

 methods of grafting 

 one other may be men- 

 tioned, more as a sam- 

 ple of such methods 

 than for general recom- 

 mendation. Nevertheless, the nurse-graft is a practical 

 working method, and as good as any. In some cases it 

 may have practical advantages. The method consists 

 essentially in supplying a cutting with a root which 

 acts as nurse. The form of making cut and union 

 is exactly the reverse of that just described in side- 

 grafting. The cion, which should be relatively 

 long, say 12 inches, is given an upward cut near 

 its middle, as shown in Figure 5. The piece of 

 root which forms the stock or nurse is cut to a 

 long wedge at its upper end. This wedge is in- 



FIG. 5 THE NURSE-GRAFT 



