GENERAL PRACTICE. GRAFTING. , 3 , 



branches of apple trees are often cut off much higher, fifty or more grafts being affixed 

 to a tree with the aid of ladders, so as to have a bearing head as soon as possible, the 

 fine Kentish apple, Loddington Seedling, being a favourite for this purpose ; but in the 

 case of dwarf trees it is essential to a satisfactory head that the trees be worked within 

 a few inches of the stem. If the trees have many branches, thin them out by cutting 

 clean away those unnecessary for working, leaving the best placed only, three to four, 

 or five at the most. 



In Fig. 22, page 133, is shown a dwarf tree cut down and worked at the wrong place, 

 namely, at too great a distance from the main stem and on a knotty part ; it will also serve 

 for elucidating the modes of grafting before named. Instead of cutting the tree over 

 at the knotty part, it should be cut at the lower circular line sections, and the grafts 

 inserted as indicated by their dotted sectional lines. If the stem were lengthened to 

 3 feet the tree would be a half standard ; if extended to 6 feet a standard, and the 

 choosing of smooth instead of knotted bark, as represented, applies to all. In cutting 

 the limbs to be operated upon, take care, before the saw gets too far through, to cut the 

 limbs on the other or under side to prevent stripping off the bark. 



In cleft grafting, F, split the trunk or limb with chisel and mallet right across, 

 inserting the wedge in the centre of the cleft to keep it open. The scion may be of 

 clean, healthy wood as thick as the finger, and should have two or three buds clear 

 of the part required for inserting in the stock. Gut the latter part wedge-shaped 

 2 to 3 inches, so that it will fit the cleft, making the wedge a little thinner on the 

 inner side opposite the bud, in order to ensure close contact of the bark where the scion 

 and stock join. The scion, /, must be inserted on one side of the stock in the cleft, so 

 that its inner bark is in contact with the inner bark of the stock the whole length of 

 the scion. Set but a little too far in, or a little too far out, and failure must issue, but 

 with the inner barks pressing against each other, and the grafts firm, success is certain. 

 Insert another scion similarly prepared on the other side of the cleft, withdraw the 

 wedge carefully, bind with soft tarred bands, and apply the wax or clay so that 

 the cleft at the top extending down the stock as low as it is split, is well covered 

 over, as shown at /, with wax. 



Rind or crown grafting, G, is very simple, and is performed as follows : Cut a slit 

 down through the bark on a clean part, 2 inches long in the stock. Take a scion about 

 6 inches long with two or three plump wood buds at the upper part, and cut the 

 lower end in a slanting direction 2 to 3 inches long, the same as the whip-graft. 



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