GRAFTING THE FIG 337 



Another method is to cut a notch into the stub with a sharp 

 knife, so as not to cause a split, but rather deep, clean cuts, into 

 which the wedge-shaped scions are firmly pushed and a cord wound 

 around the stub to hold all strongly in place before waxing 

 thoroughly. 



The form of side-graft with a saw cut as described in the chapter 

 on the peach is also available. 



In grafting the fig by various methods it is essential to have well 

 matured wood for scions two-year-old wood is usually best ; short 

 shoots or spurs well hardened are desirable. 



Grafting in the Bark. A method of bark grafting applied to 

 the fig by George C. Roeding of Fresno and approved by him after 

 several years of successful experience, affords an excellent way of 

 grafting over large trees. It does away with splitting the stock 

 and therefore hastens the barking-over of an amputation. The 

 branches to be grafted are cut off within 18 to 24 inches from the 

 point of divergence from the main body of the tree, allowing at 

 least two branches to remain, one of which should be on the south- 

 west, if possible, so that the grafts will be protected from the after- 

 noon sun. 



After having sawed off the branches, the stumps neatly smoothed 

 over with a sharp knife, so as to leave a clean, smooth surface, 

 particularly along the edge, two, four or six scions should be placed 

 on each stock, the number, of course, being regulated by the size of 

 the stump. Cut out a V-shaped piece of bark. The distance from 

 the top of the stock to the point of the V should be about 1% inches. 

 Then proceed as follows: 



Select a scion of the proper size, never be smaller than an ordinary 

 lead pencil. As a rule scions from two-year-old wood, with very little 

 pith and with a diameter of about y 2 inch, will give the best results. The 

 scions should have a sloping cut at the lower end, with the bevel all on 

 one side and not like a wedge. The bevel should be a little longer than the 

 V-shaped opening in the stock and should fit snugly into this opening, so 

 that the bark on both edges of the scion touches the bark of the stock. 

 After the scions are placed, wrap tightly with five or six-ply cotton twine, 

 and cover the wounds as well as the stub with liquid grafting wax. Wax 

 the top of the scion to prevent drying out. If waxed cloth is used it must 

 be removed before the warm weather sets in or the bark will be smothered 

 and will die. After the scions have become well united, which takes from 

 two to three months, the strings should be cut. This method of grafting 

 can not be made successful until the sap begins to flow, say from the latter 

 part of February to the first of April. The scions should never be more 

 than four inches long. 



Seedling Figs. Figs are readily grown from the imported fig 

 of commerce. Dr. Gustav Eisen of San Francisco, our leading 

 writer on the fig, gives the following explicit directions for growing 

 the fig from seed : 



Cut open imported Smyrna figs; wash out the seeds in warm water, 

 those that float are empty and worthless; those that sink are generally fer- 

 tile. Sow these in shallow boxes of sand and loam mixed, and place in a 

 frame under glass. In three weeks they will be up and must be very 

 sparingly watered. Set out next season in nursery row. In three years 

 from the seed such plants will be found to bear. 



