BUDDING AND GRAFTING. 117 



often be used successfully, but it is not safe to trust to them, espe- 

 cially if when cut open the heart wood appears dark colored. 

 Scions should not be cut when frozen. They should be stored in 

 moist sawdust or sand in a cold cellar, or buried in the ground out- 

 doors during winter. Cherry scions are most safely carried 

 through the winter when packed in moist leaves. If packed in 

 sand or sawdust they sometimes become water-soaked. 



The Principles which under ie grafting are the same as in 

 budding, i. e,, the scion and stock must be closely related; the 

 work must be done in such a manner that the inside bark of both 

 scion and stock come closely in contact ; and at a season of the 

 year, and under such circumstances, that they may unite at once, 

 or as soon as growth starts. The success of the operation largely 

 depends (1) on having the stock and scion perfectly healthy; (2) in 

 selecting the proper season, which varies somewhat with different 

 plants ; (3) in getting a perfect union of the inner barks of scion 

 and stock at least on one side ; (4) in making all the cuts with a 

 sharp knife, that the parts in contact may have a smooth surface ; 

 (5) in doin,g the work rapidly, so that the surface may not be 

 exposed. 



Grafting Wax is generally used for covering the wounds 

 made in grafting. A gord grafting wax is one that will not 

 become too soft in summer, so as to melt and run down the stock, 

 or so hard in winter as to crack and split off. A very reliable 

 grafting wax is made by melting together: resin four (4) parts, by 

 weight ; beeswax, two (2) parts ; tallow, one (1) part. When well 

 melted pour into a pail of cold water, grease the hands slightly and 

 pull the wax until it is about the color of pulled molasses candy. 

 Make into balls and store for use. This wax should be warmed 

 when applied. If it is too hard more tallow and less resin may be 

 used. Some propagators use linseed oil instead of tallow. 



Clay is frequently used for covering wounds made by grafting, 

 and it gives quite as good results as any of the waxes, if pioperly 

 applied. For this purpose some very tenacious clay should be used, 

 and it is thought to be improved when mixed with about one-third 

 fresh cow dung and a little plasterers' hair. The whole mass 

 should be thoroughly worked over before using. 



Cleft Grafting is a very common form of grafting, and is 

 mere universally known and used than any other. It is commonly 

 performed to change the bearing of apple, plum and various other 

 trees and plants. It is generally the a . 



most practical method to use on 



A , . , . UlllI 



branches two or three inches in ~ 



diameter, but it also works well on 

 quite small stocks. 



The tools used are a sharp, fine FlG ^.-Grafting chisel. 

 saw and a grafting chisel, a good 



pattern for which is shown in Fig. 93 where a represents blade for 

 splitting the stick ; 6, the wedge-shape end for holding the cleft 



