16 



PROPAGATION. 



Fig. 3. Tongue-grafting, progresssive stages, 



Having chosen your stock of the proper size, cut it off at the 

 point where, a, it appears hest to fix the graft. If the stock is 

 quite small, it may be within three or four inches of the ground. 

 Then, with a very sharp knife, make a smooth cut. upwards b, about 

 two inches in length. Next make a slit, from the top of this 

 cut about one fourth of the way downwards, c, taking out a thin 

 tongue of wood. Cut the scion four or five inches long, or so as to 

 have three buds ; then shape the lower end with a single smooth 

 sloping cut, e, about the same length as that on the stock, and make 

 the tongue upward f, to fit in the downward slit of the stock. 

 Now apply the scion accurately to the stock making the inner 

 bark of the scion Jit exactly the inner bark of the stock, at least on 

 one side, g. Without changing their position, tie them together 

 carefully with a piece of bass-matting, or tape h. And finally 

 cover the wound with well prepared grafting-clay or wax, i. 

 This ball of clay should more than cover the union, by an inch 

 above and below, and should be about an inch thick. If graft- 

 ing-wax is used, the covering need not be above half an inch 

 thick. 



In a month's time, if the graft has taken, it will be expanding 

 its leaves and sending out shoots. It will then be necessary to 

 rub or cut off all shoots between the ball and the ground, if it is 

 a small stock, or all those which would rob it of a principal share 

 of nourishment, if upon a large tree. If the scion or stock is 

 very weak, it is usual to leave one or two other buds for a time, to 

 assist in drawing up the sap. About the middle of July, after a 

 rainy day, you may remove the ball of clay, and, if the graft is 



