158 HORTICULTURE, FORESTRY, FLORICULTURE 



versally used in root grafting. It has the advantage of being well 

 adapted to small plants only 1 or 2 years of age, as well as the other 

 great consideration that it can be done indoors during the compara- 

 tive leisure of winter. The graft is made by cutting the stock off 

 diagonal one long smooth cut with a sharp knife, leaving about 

 three-fourths of an inch of cut surface. Place the knife about one- 

 third of the distance from the end of the cut surface, at right angles 

 to the cut, and split the stock in the direction of its long. axis. Cut 

 the lower end of the scion in like manner, and when the two parts 

 are forced together the cut surfaces will fit neatly together and one 

 will nearly cover the other if scion and stock are of the same size. 

 A difference in diameter of the two parts to be united may be disre- 

 garded unless it be too great. After the scion and stock have been 

 locked together they should be wrapped with five or six turns of 

 waxed cotton to hold the parts firmly together. 



While top grafting may be done in this way, it is in root grafting 

 that the whip graft finds its distinctive field. When the roots are cut 

 into lengths of 2 to 5 or 6 inches to be used as stocks, the operation is 

 known as piece-root grafting. Sometimes the entire root is used. 



The roots are dug and the scions are cut in the fall and stored. 

 The work of grafting may be done during the winter months. When 

 the operation has been performed, the grafts are packed away in 

 moss, sawdust, or sand in a cool cellar, to remain until spring. It is 

 important that the place of storage should be cool, else the grafts may 

 start into growth and be ruined, or heating and rotting may occur. 

 If the temperature is kept low not above 40 F. there will be no 

 growth except callousing, and the knitting together of stock and 

 scion. 



In ordinary propagation by means of whip grafts, the scion is 

 cut w r ith about three buds, and the stock is nearly as long as the scion. 

 The graft is so planted as to bring the union of stock and scion not 

 very far below the surface of the ground; but where the trees are 

 required to be especially hardy in order to stand severe winters, and 

 the roots used are not know y n to be so hardy as the plants from which 

 the scions have been cut, a different plan is adopted. The scions 

 are cut much longer and the roots may be cut shorter, and the graft 

 is planted so deep as to cause roots to issue from the lower end of the 

 scion. When taken up to be set in the orchard, the original root 

 may be removed entirely, leaving nothing but the scion and the roots 

 which have put forth from it. This is a common practice in prepar- 

 ing nursery stock for planting in the northern part of the Mississippi 

 Valley. 



Other Methods o/ Grafting. There are a great many other 

 methods of uniting scion and stock, a few of which may be men- 

 tioned : A branch is sawed off, as for cleft grafting, and the scions, 

 instead of being inserted in a cleft, are cut very thin and slipped be- 

 tween the bark and wood, being inserted far enough to bring the 

 growing parts together. The bark is then securely bound and wax is 

 used as in cleft grafting. This is called crown grafting by the Eng- 



