PROPAGATING APPLE-THEEti, 



31 



Fig. 9. 



jaws of the stock, so that there is no vitality left in the part 

 of the cion within the cleft. Large numbers of cions are 

 destroyed by this means. When cions fail in cleft-grafting, 

 rain enters the fissure, the cleft opens, and the end of the 

 limb decays, to the serious injury of the tree. When fitting 

 cions for this kind of side-grafting, it is important to pare 

 the end of the stock smoothly with a sharp knife; then 

 make a shoulder on both sides of the cion and cut and fit 

 until the shoulder on both sides will set down tight to the 

 inner bark of the stock. A cion will rarely fail to grow, if 

 there is a good fit at the shoulder. 



Dovetail Side-grafting. I have never known a more suc- 

 cessful mode of grafting both apple and pear stocks than 

 this, which is more particularly adapted 

 to large stocks with thick bark than 

 to small ones. The stock is sawed off 

 squarely, the end shaved smoothly, and 

 dovetailed gains cut in the bark for the 

 cions, as shown in the illustration (Fig. 

 9), representing the cleft or gain in the 

 bark. A narrow strip of bark, say one 

 inch long by one-sixteenth or so wide, 

 is removed. Then, as the knife-blade 

 is guided by a small straight-edge, to 

 aid in making a straight cut, the edge 

 of the bark is bevelled on both sides 

 of the gain, so as to give the cleft a Dovetail side-grafting. 

 dovetail form for holding the cion. The width of the gain 

 or cleft should depend on the size of the cion. Fit the 

 lower end of the cion, as represented by the illustration, by 

 cutting away about one-half true and smooth, with a square 

 shoulder. Then shave off each side, true, down to the in- 

 side bark of the cion. If the gain be too narrow, dress it 

 a trifle wider. In case a gain is made too wide, prepare 



