THE CLEFT GRAFT. 371 



being inserted, after which it should be withdrawn. 

 The wax, having been formed into a thin plate in 

 the fingers, is first placed upon the top of the stump, 

 pressed firmly without moving the scions, and then 

 brought over the sides to the dotted lines in figure 

 1, except when the clefts are made, and it is carried 

 down so as to cover the whole, save the eye at (b). 

 Thus the air will be entirely excluded. 



It is not desirable in the end that both the scions 

 should remain, as a crotch would be formed which 

 would be liable to split in after years. Therefore, 

 after the second year the scion should be selected 

 which has thrown out the strongest shoot, and a cut 

 should be made to it. This should be Avaxed thor- 

 oughly, and the wound will soon heal completely 

 over, and care for itself. The inquiry may be sug- 

 gested to the reader. Why not cut the other scion 

 off at the top of the stump, as well as to cut in a 

 slanting direction 1 The reason is, that the remain- 

 ing scion will heal over a slanting cut much quicker 

 than one that is square ; and if it is merely cut off, 

 that part is very apt to become diseased before it is 

 calloused over. In some cases, when the limb which 

 comes from the eye (b) is desirable, it may be done ; 

 but it should be avoided if possible. The benefit 

 of putting in two scions at first is, that the chance 

 of success is greater, and that the balance with the 

 roots is kept more even. Sometimes, however, a single 

 scion is used, when is formed what the French call — 



