14 



The Custard Apple in Queensland. 



tongue of the scion should be fitted into the tongue of the stock so that 

 the inner bark of both stock and scion meets as nearly as possible all 

 round. It is just under the bark that the union of the two parts takes. 

 place. The parts should then be firmly bound together with the tape or 



other tying material. In event of the union being made within 6 in. of 

 the soil, this may be heaped up round the graft to keep the parts cool 

 and moist. But it may sometimes be found advisable to put on a graft 

 higher up or on an old stock. If the stock is old, or of a, greater diameter 

 than half an inch at the point of insertion, other kinds of grafts may be 

 found more suitable. The stock if thick may be cut across with a saw. 

 It may then be cleft with a strong knife and mallet and one or two scions- 

 may be cut with wedge-shaped points and one put in at each side of the 

 cleft so that the bark area, of both scions meets with the bark area of 

 the stock at each side of the cleft, see Fig. C. The union should then 

 be entirely covered with the waxed tape and the whole made airtight. 

 To further maintain coolness and moisture round the parts, a piece of 

 bagging may be lightly tied over the whole. 



Grafting should be done when the sap is moving freely, and this 

 period generally occurs in the case of the Custard Apple between the 

 middle of September and the middle of October. 



"All tools used in grafting should be kept in good order, knives 

 especially so, as it is difficult to cut a good-fitting graft with a blunt 

 knife, and not only that, but the cleaner and neater the cut the more 

 certain and perfect the union. All tools used for grafting should be 

 kept perfectly clean, and should be sterilised frequently by immersion 

 in a 5 per cent, solution of formalin. 



"Graf ting- wax, which may be used for all grafts above ground, is- 



