MARCH] THE NURSERY. 265 



and a half or near two inches in length on opposite sides, making it 

 have a wedge-like shape ; but let that edge which is to be placed out- 

 wards on the stock be left thicker than the other, and with the rind 

 continued thereon. The graft being prepared, take your strong knife 

 or chisel, and place it on the middle of the stock, not across, but 

 contrarywise to the sloped part, and with a small mallet strike the 

 knife or chisel into the stock, observing to cleave it no farther than 

 what is necessary to admit the graft readily ; then place the knife, or 

 some small instrument, a little way into the cleft, at the sloped part 

 of the stock, to keep it open for the reception of the graft, which 

 directly introduce into the cleft on the top of the stock, at the back 

 of the slope ; inserting it with great exactness, as far as it is cut, 

 with the thickest edge outwards, and so that the rind may meet ex- 

 actly every way with that of the stock. The graft being placed, 

 then remove the knife or wedge, taking care not to displace the scion ; 

 this done, let it be tied and well clayed in the manner directed above, 

 in the work of whip or tongue-grafting. 



Or, if you choose to put in two grafts, it may be performed on 

 large stocks, which must be twice cleft, parallel to each other, and so 

 fix the scions as above, in opposite sides. 



This method of grafting may be performed occasionally on the up- 

 right branches of bearing trees when intended either to renew the 

 wood or change the sort of fruit. 



When the grafts have shot five or six inches, take off the clay and 

 bandages, and cover the wounded parts of the stocks with fresh graft- 

 ing clay, which will protect them from the influence of the weather, 

 and accelerate the growth of the bark over the wounds ; let this 

 claying remain on till it falls off of itself : this second claying is more 

 necessary to large than to small stocks, but will be very useful to 

 either. 



THIRD, BY CROWN-GRAFTING. 



The third kind of grafting is known by the name of crown-graft- 

 ing, as sometimes three, four, or more grafts are inserted round the 

 crown of the stock, in a circular order, introduced betwixt the bark 

 and the wood. 



This way of grafting is commonly practised upon such stocks as 

 are too large and stubborn to cleave, and is often performed upon the 

 branches of apple and pear-trees, &c., that already bear fruit, when 

 it is intended to change the sorts or to renew the tree with fresh bear- 

 ing wood. 



The manner of doing it is as follows : 



First, to cut off the head of the tree or stock level, or of any par- 

 ticular branch of a tree which you intend to graft, and pare the top 

 perfectly smooth; then prepare your scions, which is done by cutting 

 one side flat and sloping, about two inches in length, making a kind 

 of shoulder at the top of the cut to rest on the head of the stock, 

 and pare off a little of the bark towards each edge of the graft ; then 

 prepare to insert it, which, in this order of grafting, must be effected 

 by introducing the sloped part down betwixt the bark and wood of 



