246 THE NURSERY. [MARCH. 



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 cion 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 tonguing 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 suifer the bandages to remain on, till the 

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



Seco?id) 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 cion, 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 cion 

 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 cions 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 man- 

 ner, about an inch and a half or near two inches in length on oppo- 

 site sides, making it to have a wedge-like shape ; but let that edge, 

 which is to be placed outwards in the stock, be left thicker than the 

 other, and with the rind continued thereon. The graft being pre- 

 pared, take your strong knife or chissel, and place it on the middle 

 of the stock, not across, but contrary ways, to the sloped part, and 

 with a small mallet, strike the knife or chissel 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 



