340 CALIFORNIA FRUITS I HOW TO GROW THEM 



vigorous growth and clean bark free from little lateral twigs. Where a leaf 

 adheres to such limbs or where one has been and fallen off, there is a small 

 bud or eye. Such dormant buds or eyes are lifted from the wood together with a 

 small piece of the bark about one-third or half an inch square. On the properly 

 selected limbs of the trees you wish to bud into, make three cuts with a knife 

 so as to include a space a little longer than the piece of bark to be inserted. 

 Two parallel cuts are in line with the limb; one is across the top. Lifting the 

 flap of bark thus made carefully with dull side of a blade, the cambium layer of 

 the wood will be exposed. Slip in the piece of bark with the dormant bud and 

 press it close with the flap made on the limb. Tie the flap firmly to cover the 

 whole piece inserted with raffia or strips of cloth or soft twine. At the end of 

 one week cut the ligatures and suffer the flap to curl up and dry. If the inser- 

 tion has united to the wood, it will remain green and fresh-looking about the 

 dormant eye. If this freshness continues after exposure, the bud has taken. 

 Then cut with a knife or saw into the limb above the bud to induce the sap 

 to force the growth. If any one fails, the limb need not be cut into, but may 

 be budded in another place. The following winter, cut off the limb above the 

 bud if it has sprouted well, and, as sufficient new wood is made, the old branches 

 of the tree may be cut away. 



GRAFTING THE OLIVE 



Grafting is also used in working over both large and small olive 

 trees. Good success can sometimes be had with the ordinary method 

 of top grafting, as described in Chapter IX, using scions not larger 

 than a lead pencil and inserting them in April. The olive can also be 

 successfully grafted in the bark according to the method shown in 

 Chapter IX. This graft is used for working in the top of the tree, but 

 it may also be used at the surface of the ground, covering the cut 

 surfaces with earth when the scions are in place. Judge A. L. Rhodes, 

 of San Jose, gives the following explicit account of his success with a 

 bark graft, as follows: 



The stock, where cut off, may be from half to two and one-half inches in 

 diameter; the scion about one-quarter inch in diameter, the lower end to be 

 formed by an oblique cut of about one and one-half inches. Split the bark of 

 the top of the stock about one inch, raise the bark at the sides of the split 

 slightly, insert the point of the scion between the bark and wood of the stock, 

 at the split, and press it down the length of its oblique cut. Fasten it by binding 

 twine around both stock and scion, about ten times, very firmly. Apply grafting 

 wax to top of stock and scion. 



If the bark of the stock be three or more years old, make two slits in it, 

 about one and one-half inches in length, the width between them equaling the 

 width of the oblique cut of the scion, raise the bark between the slits, cut off 

 about half of it, by a sloping cut, then insert the scion and press it down, and 

 bind with twine and apply grafting wax, as above directed. Cotton wrapping 

 twine is of sufficient strength. 



Stocks the diameter of one inch or more should receive two or more scions. 

 Scions gathered a short time before their insertion are the most successful. The 

 twine around the stock and scion should not be loosened until it indents the bark 

 of the stock. Protect the graft from sun and wind. Wrap paper around stock 

 and scion, the paper to extend a few inches above the scion or place the paper, 

 in the form of a bag, over scion and stock and secure the paper with twine, 

 tied around the stock in a slip-knot. 



Bark grafting may be performed at any time when the bark of the stock 

 can be readily raised whenever the bark will "slip." I grafted in that mode in 

 each week of April and May and the first of June, and in September. Failures 

 not 5 per cent. Twelve scions inserted about the middle of last September are 



