FRUIT-GARDENING. 21 



horizontal, rather than from the strong perpendicular shoots. 

 The shoots of Apples, etc., should be taken from healthy trees 

 late in autumn, or before the buds begin to swell in the spring, 

 and buried half of their length in the ground or in a cool and 

 dry cellar, there to remain until the season of grafting. 



For some descriptions of trees the stocks are headed down 

 near to the ground. In nurseries, Apples intended for stand- 

 ards are generally grafted about nine inches high only, allow- 

 ing them to grow up standard high, and forming their heads 

 upon the second year's shoots. In cider countries, the stock 

 is generally trained up standard high ; and when grown suffi- 

 ciently large for the purpose, it is grafted at the height intended 

 for the head of the tree. 



There are various methods of grafting, but the following are 

 those most generally practised. 



CLEFT-GRAFTING. 



This mode of grafting is generally practised on stocks of 

 from one to two inches in diameter, and may be performed in 

 the following manner : Let the head of the stock be carefully 

 sawed off where the limb is free from knots, and the end pared 

 smooth. Then with a thin knife, split down the stock through 

 the centre to the depth of about two inches, and insert a 

 chisel to*keep it open for the reception of the scion, which 

 must be prepared in the form of a wedge, with one or two buds 

 in the upper part, and inserted carefully, so that the inner 

 bark of the scion and of the stock may both exactly meet. 

 Large stocks require two scions, one on each side, and some- 

 times four are inserted. When done, tie them firmly together 

 with bass, and then cover the grafted part with well-prepared 

 clay, in an oval form, and close it securely. 



These directions apply particularly to small limbs or small 

 trees. Those stocks that will pinch the grafts sufficiently tight 

 as soon as the chisel is taken out, do not require any binding. 

 When scions are set in large stocks, it is sometimes necessary 



