3* THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



wedge-like scion in the notch of the stock, being careful that both barks meet on their 

 inner parts. The graft inserted is represented at u. It only remains to put on the 

 desired number of scions, bind the whole with matting and cover with grafting- wax 

 or clay as before advised. 



As to the merits or defects of the three modes of crown-grafting described, expe- 

 rienced cultivators state that by cleft- grafting the scion is held firmly in place, and the 

 graft does not need tying when in growth ; but the stock having to be split occasions 

 an opening between the scions which may never be closed, and wet entering causes 

 hollowness in the tree. Holes, it may be observed, however, of much larger size than 

 occurs in cleft -grafting, are frequently closed by fresh bark and wood growing over 

 them. Bind-grafting is easily performed, and the wood of the stock is preserved intact ; 

 but the scions are liable to displacement by wind and other violence. Notch-grafting 

 does not prejudice the stock, the barks of both are brought into direct contact, there 

 is no unnatural swelling as in rind-grafting, and the scions are not liable to be blown 

 out by wind. 



It is important in all grafting operations that a good fit be assured. The flap of 

 the scion must not overlap the slip of the stock, for the descending sap of the scion 

 having reached the slanting part overlapping the stock and meeting with no correspond- 

 ing vessels to receive it, will form a mass of cellular tissue, resulting in an unsightly 

 protuberance. All flaps, wedges, or tongues of the scion are better a little too short 

 than too long for their corresponding parts in the stock, Nevertheless, good fits are 

 most successful. A fit like that in v (page 133) must fail, one similar to iv will not suc- 

 ceed, but one corresponding to x proves satisfactory through the inner barks of the stock 

 and scion fitting properly. In cutting to a thin edge or point, be careful not to separate 

 the bark from the wood as shown in y ; or in forming a tongue it must not be bent 

 back so as to detach the bark as in z ; and, above everything, avoid deep, narrow clefts 

 and long thin tongues as liable to cause decay where it is necessary to secure perfect 

 union. When stems or branches of trees are grafted, the scions must be secured by 

 putting a stick to each, binding the stick to the stem or branch firmly by at least two 

 ligatures of tarred string below the graft, tying the scion to the stick at one or two 

 places so that no wind can displace it. 



Side-grafting is usefully performed on stems or branches for supplying deficiencies. 

 On an upright stem where a branch is deficient, as often occurs in trained trees, a scion 

 may be inserted. If the stem be small, whip-grafting answers ; the only difference is 



