40 



PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 



Fig. 25. 



grafting, as large corresponding surfaces are made 

 to fit, and the graft receives freely the ascending 

 sap. 



In all these modes of grafting, whenever a wedge 

 is made to enter a cleft, it should be thickest on 

 the side where the fit is made between the two 

 parts, so as to receive the full pressure of the cut 

 faces at that side, as shown in fig. 22. 



A modification of saddle grafting, very suc- 

 cessful in its results, is thus performed : Late 

 in spring, after growth has commenced, the scion, 

 which is much smaller than the stock, is split up, 

 nearer to one side, more than half its length, 

 (fig. 25.) The stronger side is then sharpened into 

 a wedge at its point, and introduced between the bark and 

 the wood, a slight longitudinal slit beino; made through the 

 bark of the stock, that it may open slightly and admit the 

 graft. The thinner division of the graft is fitted to the op- 

 posite sloping side of the stock. The whole is then cover- 

 ed with wax. The great length of that portion of the graft 

 in contact with the bark and fresh wood, greatly facilitates 

 their union ; while the cut face of the stock is speedily co- 

 vered with a new growth by that part of the graft which 

 rests upon it. 



In grafting the peach, which, from its large pith and 

 spongy wood, scarcely ever succeeds as commonly performed, 

 it is found advantageous in selecting the grafts, to leave a 

 quarter of an inch of the more compact two years' wood at 

 the lower extremity. 



Root-grafting is performed by taking up the stocks by 

 the roots, and inserting the grafts immediately into the part 

 below ground after the tops are cut off, after which they 

 are again planted out, with the tip of the graft only above 

 ground. This mode is successful with the apple, and oc- 

 casionally with other trees, and is adopted on a large scale 

 by many nurserymen, the work being performed in winter 

 or early spring within doors, and the grafted roots kept in 

 cellars till the ground is ready to receive them. It will 

 be found fully described in the chapter on the apple. 



In grafting the plum and cherry, success is found to be 

 much more certain, when the work is performed very early 



