36 Propagation. 



sharpened into a wedge at its point, and introduced between the 

 bark and the wood, a slight longitudinal slit being 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 opposite sloping side of the stock. The whole is 

 then covered with wax. The great length of that por- 

 tion of the graft in contact with the bark and fresh wood, 

 greatly facilitates their union ; while the cut face of the 

 stock is speedily covered 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 per- 

 formed, 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. 

 Fig. 38. In grafting the plum and cherry, success is found to be 



Saddle- much more certain when the work is performed very 

 graj tng. ear } v j n spring, before the buds commence swelling, 

 or even before the snow has disappeared from the ground. Apples 

 and pears may be grafted later, and if the scions have been kept 

 in good condition in a dormant state, they will mostly grow if 

 inserted even after the trees are in leaf. 



After a graft is inserted, and as soon as the tree commences 

 growth, the buds on the stock must be rubbed off, in order to throw 

 the rising sap into the scion. If large trees are grafted, the buds 

 need only rubbing off the branch which holds it. 



Where it becomes desirable to preserve rare sorts, which have 

 been grafted late in spring, a loose wrapper of white paper round 

 the graft will protect it from the drying and scorching rays of the 

 sun ; or shrivelling and failure will often be prevented by covering 

 the whole graft with a wax-plaster ; or by encasing it in moss kept 

 damp by occasional applications of water. 



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, when they are again planted out, with the 

 tip of the graft only above ground. This mode is successful with 

 the apple, and occasionally with other trees, and is adopted on a 

 large scale by 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. A full description of the mode 

 is given in the chapter on the apple. 



Cutting Grafts. Grafts are usually cut during the latter part of 



