306 
PYRUS MALUS. 
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nig" for scions less than a half of an inch in diameter, and "saddle-grafting" 
for those which are larger. Grafting upon old stocks and fall-grown trees is usu- 
ally performed by what is termed cleft- grafting: 
In whip-grafting, cut the stock (a) with a 
sharp knife, in an oblique direction without 
starting or bruising the bark, and the scion (6) 
in like manner of a corresponding angle. And 
then, with as little delay as possible, place the 
inner barks of the stock and scion in perfect 
contact, at least on one side, and bind them 
fast together with a riband of bass or guana, 
as indicated at (c.) In this part of the process, 
take particular jxtins and see that the junction 
of the two barks is not in the least displaced. 
To protect the grafted parts from drought, air, 
and moisture, a layer of green cow-dung and 
fresh loam, well mixed in equal proportions, 
should be applied, with a trowel or spatula, 
one inch thick on every side, and a little above 
and below the union of the stock and the scion. 
A mixture of three parts fine clay, and one 
part fresh horse-droppings, well incorporated 
together, may also be applied with success. A 
bandage of moss or tow is sometimes wound 
round the clay or mixture, to prevent it from 
cracking by the heat of the sun, and from washing away by rains. In making the 
incision in the side of the stock which is to receive the scion, the knife ought, if 
possible, to be entered at the base of a bud, and pass upwards. The reason of 
this is, that the vital principle is more powerful there ; and that the germs, both 
of buds and roots, are, in most plants, confined to the joints of the stems; though 
in some, as in several varieties of the elm, they appear to be distributed equally 
over every part of the stem and roots. 
In performing saddle- grafting, cut, 
with a sharp drawing-knife or other 
instrument, the stock (jil) so as to leave 
the top in the form of a wedge. Split 
the lower end of the scion (e) and pare 
each side of the cleft, so as to fit, when 
seated, exactly on the top of the stock, 
with the inner barks of both in perfect 
contact. And then, with a bass riband, 
bind the parts strongly together, as at 
(/,) and perform the operation of clay- 
ing as in the preceding method. In 
three months or more after grafting, re- 
move the clay, and partially loosen the 
bass ribands which are bound round 
the grafts, in order that the scions may 
have more room to expand. In a few 
weeks more, when the parts have been 
partially inured to the air, and when 
there is no danger of the scion being 
blown off by the winds, the whole of 
