264 THE NURSERY. [MARCH 



every part, as if you were splicing a fishing-rod ; but when the stock 

 is much larger than the scion, this cannot be done so exactly, unless 

 you insert it on the opposite side of the stock to the slope ; however, 

 that will not be necessary, provided you join the rinds or bark of 

 both, so as to fit neatly on either edge or side of the slope ; then 

 make a slit upwards in the slope of the scion, so as to form a sort of 

 tongue to fit that made in the slope of the stock, which insert therein, 

 so that the rinds of both may join together exactly, at least on one 

 side, and immediately tie the parts together with a ligature of bass, 

 &c., bringing it in a neat manner several times around the stock and 

 graft moderately tight, and fastened accordingly. 



This done, clay the whole over near an inch thick on every side, 

 from an inch below the bottom of the graft to the same above the 

 top of the stock, finishing the coat of clay in a longish oval form, 

 closing it effectually in every part, and tapering it up to the scion to 

 prevent the wind, sun, or rain reaching the grafted parts till the 

 union is effected ; observing to examine it now and then ; and if any 

 part falls off, or cracks appear, such must be immediately repaired 

 with fresh clay. 



Expert nursery-gardeners generally perform whip-grafting with 

 four cuts; two in heading and slitting the stock, and the same in 

 sloping and turning the graft, inserting it immediately, being followed 

 by one or two persons to tie and clay them. 



This sort of grafting may also be performed, if necessary, upon 

 strong young shoots of any bearing tree, if intended to alter the 

 kind of fruit, or have more than one sort on the same tree. 



By the middle or latter end of May, the grafts will be well united 

 with the stocks, as will be evident by their shooting ; the clay may 

 then be taken off, but suffer the bandages to remain on till the united 

 parts seem to swell, and be too much confined thereby. 



SECOND, BY CLEFT-GRAFTING. 



This is called cleft-grafting, because the stock being too large for 

 whip-grafting, is cleft or slit down the middle for the reception of 

 the scion, and is performed upon stocks from about one to two inches 

 diameter, and may be practised with success where the rind of the 

 stock is not too thick, whereby the inner bark of the scion will be 

 prevented from closely joining that of the stock, which junction is 

 absolutely necessary to form a complete union of the parts. 



First, with a strong knife cut off the head of the stock ; or if the 

 stock is very large it may be headed with a small saw. 



This done, fix upon a smooth part just below where headed, and 

 on the opposite side to that cut away part of the stock, about an inch 

 and a half, in a sloping manner upwards, so as the crown of the stock 

 may not be more than about half an inch broad, which slope and 

 crown are to be cut smooth and neat. Then prepare your grafts or 

 scions in the following manner : observe to cut them into proper 

 lengths of about six inches, with several eyes or buds to each : then 

 take your sharpest knife, and pare away the bark and some of the 

 wood at the lower end of the graft in a sloping manner, about an inch 



