GRAFTING 



103 



of tongue and whip grafting is often heard. Tongue grafting 

 is employed only upon small stocks, and in the majority of 

 cases a seedling root is the stock which is used for this kind 

 of grafting. The tongue or whip graft is 

 very important in the propagation of nurs- 

 ery stock, because it is easily made, and 

 usually a good percentage of the grafts 

 grow. This graft is used almost univer- 

 sally in root grafting. When selecting 

 the root for the stock, all knots or shoulders 

 should be avoided, because they will inter- 

 fere with the work. 



To make the tongue or whip graft, select 

 stocks and cions which are of one size. 

 The same size for each part is not abso- 

 lutely necessary but very convenient. Cut 

 both the cion and the stock diagonally 

 across. The diagonal cut should be from 

 one and one-half to two inches in length. 

 One-half inch from the end on the diagonal 

 cut make a slit about one-half inch in length 

 on both the stock and the cion. Do not 

 split either the cion or the stock, because 

 that will leave a rough surface, and the two 

 parts will not fit together tightly. The 

 stock and the cion are now fastened together 

 by shoving the tongue of the cion into the 

 cleft of the stock. The two parts are held 

 together by tying them firmly with graft- 

 ing cord or with raffia. In nursery work 

 a method often employed is to firmly force 

 the two parts together without tying; and 

 pack them carefully in boxes. The grafts 

 should then be covered with sand. By 

 careful handling, the two parts will callous 

 over and become united and a strong union will be made 

 before the time arrives to plant the grafts. 



Root grafting is usually performed in the .winter when 

 other work is scarce. After the grafts are made they are 



FIG. 42. A 

 piece-root whip 

 and tongue graft. 



