ISO THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



mode of using grafting wax so as to cover all the cut parts ; a?, intermediate portion 

 of Morello seedling stem ; y, Mahaleb part of stem. 



Wedge-grafting requires the stock and scion to be about equal in thickness, the stock 

 if anything the larger. It is essentially the same in principle as double-tongue grafting, 

 but one tongue, that of the scion, and one cleft, that of the stock. The scion is prepared 

 with one bud, as shown at s in (7, page 129. When the scion is smaller than the stock 

 it is given a shoulder (), for resting on the top of the stock (l>), the cut on the outside 

 of the scion being less than at the back, forming a wedge about two inches long with a 

 feather-edge base. To receive the scion, opposite cuts exactly corresponding are made 

 in the stock so as to remove a wedge-like piece of wood, the counterpart of the scion, 

 or a trifle less. There is no difficulty in fitting the scion on the stock, so that both 

 inner barks coincide, at least on one side, but both are best. The scion inserted on the 

 stock and tied is represented at c. In D is shown the graft in growth, the junction 

 of stock and scion covered with grafting-wax as indicated by the dotted lines at <7, 

 and the method of securing the graft to a stake, e. E shows double grafting of the pear, 

 /, scion with three buds properly fitted in the intermediate stock #, and the effected union 

 of the intermediate stock with the root stock, h. Saddle-grafting is but the reverse of 

 wedge-grafting. It can only be performed on stocks that are as large as, or larger than, 

 the scion, and is apt to form a callosity at the point of union through the descending 

 current running over the stock, forming a decortication or wen on the scion side. 



Working Large Stocks and Old Trees. Dwarf as well as standard trees are amenable 

 to grafting by modes other than those which have been described. In fact, whip 

 and similar modes of grafting cannot well be performed on stocks much over an inch 

 in diameter, yet thick stems can be readily worked by cleft, rind, and notch grafting. 

 The main stem of a tree can be successfully operated upon, but it is better to use limbs 

 than graft on the trunk if the trees are of large size. It is usual to use two scions, 

 but three or more may be inserted in large branches. The tools necessary, besides 

 those already mentioned, are a fine-toothed saw, light mallet, wedge-shaped strong 

 chisel, and a hardwood narrow wedge. 



The position where the stems are cut for the reception of the scions is a matter of 

 some importa? ,oe. At some little distance from the stem, in most cases, the limbs have 

 side branches and therefore they are knotty and not well suited for grafting, but a little 

 lower down the bark is clear for the insertion of the grafts. The limbs of a standard 

 tree may be worked at a foot to 15 inches distance from the stem, but in Kent the 



