86 



Commercial Gardening 



Fig. 77. Cleft Grafting 



from the cambium that union is to take place. The graft being properly 

 fitted to the stock it is then tied round securely with raffia, or matting, 

 or worsted thread, after which the joint is covered over completely with 

 grafting wax, or clay made into "pug" by mixing it with a little chopped 

 hay or straw. A good grafting wax may be made by 

 boiling in a saucepan some beeswax, resin, and Russian 

 tallow in equal proportions. While still warm (not hot) 

 this mixture, which should be of the consistence of 

 treacle, is easily applied with a little brush or flat piece 

 of wood. A rough-and-ready method of grafting as 

 practised in some market gardens is shown in fig. 76, 

 taken from an actual specimen. 



Cleft and Rind Grafting". In the case of old t.ees, 

 having the stems many times thicker than the scions, 

 whip grafting could not be conveniently done. The 

 stocks are headed back at the proper season, and at the 

 proper time a slit is made in the bark with a strong- 

 bladed knife, or a cleft is made with a chisel, as shown 

 in fig. 77 at a. The latter is not a good way to graft, 

 as it leaves a fissure open in the stem, in which water 

 collects and rots the wood later on. The slit with the knife is best, and 

 the bark may be gently opened outwards with the point of a small chisel 

 or flat piece of steel to allow the graft, which has been cut obliquely to 

 form a wedge, to be pushed in easily. Two or three similar grafts may 

 be inserted in one stem if necessary, and if the bark only is open, without 



splitting the wood, 

 the process is known 

 as " rind " or " crown " 

 grafting, as shown in 

 fig. 78. 



Saddle Grafting-. 

 When the stock 

 and scion are about 

 equal in diameter 

 this method may be 

 adopted, but it is 

 not so good as whip 

 grafting and is also 

 more troublesome to 

 perform. As shown 

 in fig. 79, the stock 

 A is cut up on both 



The graft or scion B, having several 

 buds, is split up the centre, and each half is thinned to make it fit astride 

 the tapering stock, and so that the inner bark of stock and scion are flush 

 with each other at least on one side. 



Cleft 



Grafting 



Triangular 

 Notch Grafting 



Fig. 78. Forms of Grafting 



Fig. 79. Saddle 

 Grafting 



sides to form a wedge ending at c. 



