GRAFTING AND BUDDING 313 



the tree to be multiplied, about 2*/2 inches long 

 with well formed buds on it. Slice off both sides 

 of the lower end of the graft in the form of a 

 sloping wedge, the cut on each side being not 

 much over one inch long. Both sides should be 

 alike, but one of the edges should be thicker than 

 the other. 



The tree to be grafted is bent to one side with 

 the left hand. With the right hand a sloping 

 gash is made downward on one side of the tree 

 just above the ground, and the graft, described 

 above, is pushed down into this cut as far as it 

 will go. The cambium layers of the cion and 

 seedling meet at some point, and a union with 

 the tree is formed. After the cion has been 

 placed, the tree is allowed to spring back to its 

 upright position, and is at once cut off with a 

 pair of pruning shears, about two inches above 

 the graft. 



Warm wax is sometimes applied with a small 

 paint brush over the wound to keep out the 

 water, germs, and dry air, though waxing is 

 often omitted with good success if the graft is 

 well covered with earth leaving a single bud 

 above the surface. 



In grafting cions on the branches of trees, as 

 in transforming large trees or whole orchards, 

 the so-called ''cleft" graft is usually employed 



