GRAFTING 



Cleft Grafting is especially adapted to trees 

 too large for whip grafting, and is the method 

 almost universally employed for top grafting 

 qld trees. Cions for spring grafting are usually 

 cut in late fall or winter, and stored until 



() Opening slit with grafting chisel ; (b) cleft- 

 graft rions inserted in stock; (c) vertical section 

 of a cleft-graft a year after setting; (ri) cleft- 

 graft of cactus. 



spring. The stock, a branch from one to one 

 and one-half inches in diameter, is cut off 

 squarely, forming a section with a smooth, flat 

 end surface. This end is then split, and into 

 the cleft is inserted a cion with a wedge-shaped 

 base (Fig. 3; a, b). Usually the cion has three 

 buds, the lowest one being just above the 

 wedge-shaped section, and its sides are cut 

 smooth and even. It is necessary to have the 

 outer edge of the wedge a little thicker than 

 the inner one, in order that the stock may press 

 upon it and hold it securely at the point where 

 the union first takes place. The end of the 

 stock, known as the stub, is usually large 

 enough for the insertion of two cions, one 

 upon each side of the split. Not only does the 

 double grafting increase the chance of success, 

 but it also has the advantage of hastening the 

 healing of the wound, which is thoroughly cov- 

 ered with wax to exclude air and moisture. 

 Fig. 3, c, shows a vertical section of a cleft 

 graft a year after setting. Cleft grafting is 

 also used on cactuses, and on peonies, dahlias, 

 hollyhocks and other thick-rooted plants. In 

 the case of the cactus the cion is held in 

 place with a cactus spine or pin, and bound 

 with cord, waxing being unnecessary (Fig. 

 3, f/), as the plants are very hardy and survive 

 extreme conditions. 



GRAFTING 



Other Methods. Bark grafting is exceedingly 

 useful in repairing large trees whose branches 

 have been broken off. The cions arc pushed 

 down between the bark and the wood at places 

 where the bark is loosened for that purpose. 

 The cions, several of which may be inserted 

 in one stub, must be cut very thin so they 

 will not injure the bark of the stock. They an 

 held in place by a tight bandage, and wax is 

 also applied, as in cleft grafting. This operation 

 is known also as crown grafting. Saddle graft- 

 ing is frequently employed in the propagation 

 of shoots of small plants. The stock is given 

 a wedge-shaped end, and the cion split and 

 set upon this. The joint is then tied ami 

 waxed. Splice grafting is a useful method for 

 working upon small shoots whose wood is too 

 soft and tender for splitting. The two parts 

 are simply cut across diagonally, laid together 

 and secured by means of string and wax. 



Inarching, or grafting by approach, is a 

 process that sometimes occurs in nature with- 

 out the aid of man ; the union of the two oak 

 trees shown in Fig. 4, a is an example of a 

 natural graft in the forest. Inarching is the 



F.R.4 



(a) Natural graft of forest trees; (b) Inarch- 

 ing of potted plants. 



process of grafting two plants or branches, both 

 of which are attached to their own roots. It 

 is used to remedy defects in trees, to propagate 

 potted plants that do not unite easily by 

 other methods, and has been of special value 

 in scientific fruit development. To join tin- 

 parts it is necessary only to remove a portion 

 of the bark on each plant, bring the wounded 

 surfaces in contact, and then bind stock and 

 cion closely together (Fig. 4, b). 



The details of a typical process in fruit cul- 

 ture are about as follows: A seedling, which 

 has been left growing long enough to bear 

 about half a dozen leaves, is taken up with 

 the ball of earth clinging to its roots, and 

 transferred to a foster tree. A wound is made 



