228 



Principles of Plant Culture. 



gtSS? SSSf ' * 



equidistant as possible (Fig. 116), are selected for 



grafting, and it is desirable to graft these rather near 



to the top of the trunk. 



Branches exceeding two inches 



in diameter should not, as a rule, 



be grafted. About half of the 



top of the tree should be cut 



away just before the grafting, 



leaving some branches to utilize 



a part of the sap. The more or 



less horizontal branches should 



generally be selected for graft- 



ing, and in these, the cleft should 



be made horizontally, to give the 



two cions inserted an equal op- 



portunity for growth. If both the cions in a branch 



grow, the weaker one should be pruned off later. As 

 growth starts, shoots from the 

 stock must be rubbed off 

 (390). 



The spring following the 

 top-grafting, all or a part of 

 the branches left on the stock 

 at grafting should be pruned 

 FIG. 117. cieft-graft in off to encourage growth of the 



trunk of old grape vine. The 



cions are usually inserted grafts. If the tree IS large 



below the surface of the 



ground in grafting the grape, and of a vigorous Variety, it 



and no wax is used. (After 



is wise to leave a part of thes^ 

 branches until the second spring. 



393. Side-Grafting if chiefly practiced with plants 

 in leaf, under glass. The cion is joined at the side of 



