24 



GRAFTING EXPLAINED. 



ward, so that when the wedge in the cleft is withdrawn, the 

 pressure of the stock shall be directly upon the 

 two cambium regions. A horizontal view of 



'ij/j the completed cleft-graft is represented in Fig. 



' 23, and a view in perspective in Fig. 24. In 

 the above operation the important points to in- 

 sure success are: 



1. A clean, smooth cut upon the cion. 



2. The perfect union of the two inner barks 

 or cambiun layers. 



'^ ■"■ 3. Rapid work, that the cut parts may not be 



exposed long to the air. 



After the grafts have been put in and the wedge driven out, the 

 whole cut surface must be covered with grafting wax, to exclude 

 both air and moisture. A very good article may be purchased of 

 seedsmen and dealers in mirservmen's supplies, or it may be made 



S!cA.oru\> 



as follows: Melt together equal parts of rosin, beeswax and tallow; 

 ox one-half the quantity of good linseed oil in place of the tallow 

 may be used. When cool, the mixture should be pulled, to give 

 it touglmess. In very cool weather it must be put in 

 slightly warmed water, to make it work easily ; and in 

 warm days, it should be taken to the orchard in cold 

 water. Two cions are generally put into each cleft, 

 when large enough, to insure success ; but when growth 

 of both has become certain, one should be cut o;ff. 



In this method of grafting only the branches used 

 for clefts are cut away the first season; for, to cut 

 them all away, would give the tree too severe a check. 

 All suckers that may come out near the cleft during 

 the summer should be removed, that the force of growth 

 may all go into the cion. 



The best time for grafting is just as the buds begin 

 to swell, which, for the Apple and pear, is from April 

 16th to May 15th in the latitude of Boston, or between 



fftftERTY LIBRARY 



Fig. 24. 



