BOOK OF FRUITS. 25 



putting forth their leaves. In a long contin- 

 uance of dry weather, grafts frequently fail of 

 taking. This operation is generally more suc- 

 cessful, if performed in a moist or cloudy day. 

 Among the various methods of engrafting, 

 the following we consider as successful as any 

 described, viz : cleft or slit-grafting. It is 

 performed on stocks from one to two inches 

 in diameter. The head of the stock being 

 carefully cut off in a sloping direction, a per- 

 pendicular cleft or slit is to be made, about 

 two inches deep towards the back of the 

 slope, into which a wedge is to be driven, in 

 order to keep it open for the admission of the 

 scion ; the latter must now be cut in a per- 

 pendicular direction, and in the form of a 

 wedge, so as to fit the incision in the stock, 

 in such a manner that the inner bark of both 

 the stock and scion may meet exactly. It is 

 then covered over with grafting clay, compos- 

 ed of half cow-dung, free from litter, and fresh 

 loam well incorporated, or the following com- 

 position, which is made of equal parts of rosin, 

 beeswax and tallow, or lard, melted and spread 

 upon strips of brown paper or cloth. We 

 have practised grafting under the bark in 

 Spring, m the manner of budding with good 

 c 



