NEW ZEALAND GARDENING. 69 



Whip Grafting, also called tongue grafting, is the 

 most generally used when the stock and scion are about 

 equal size. The head of the stock is pruned off at the 

 desired height, and then a slip of bark and wood removed 

 at the upper portion of the stock with a very clean cut, 

 to fit exactly with a corresponding cut, which must be made 

 in the scion. A very small amount of wood must be cut 

 away, and the surface made quite smooth ; care must be 

 taken that no dirt be put upon the cuts in this, and indeed, 

 in all the other modes. The scion must now be prepared ; 

 this should have, at least, three or four buds. A sloping cut 

 must now be made in the scion ; this cut must correspond 

 with that in the stock. The two are then fitted together, 

 care being taken that the divided bark of the scion is exactly 

 adapted to the divided bark of the stock ; for unless the 

 bark of one side of the scion, at least, meets exactly with 

 the bark of the stock failure is sure to be the result. On 

 this hinges the success or otherwise of the operation, When 

 the scion and stock differ in point of size, of course only 

 one side can touch. These remarks apply equally to all kinds 

 of grafting. The two are then bound firmly, but not too 

 tightly, together with matting ; flax will answer. The 

 bandage is carefully covered with well-tempered clay, or 

 grafting wax (which may be had from any seedsman), in 

 order to exclude air from the wound ; and the operation is 

 finally left to nature, with the precaution, that any buds from 

 the stock below the scion are removed as soon as they begin 

 to sprout. In about six weeks or two months the young 

 scion will have made growth, the union is then effected, and 

 the ligature, as well as the clay or wax, may be removed ; 

 care being still taken that the scion is not blown off the 

 stock by high winds. To obviate this danger the grafts 

 are sometimes staked on removal of the ligature. 



Saddle Grafting is practised only where the stock is 

 of moderate dimensions. The stock is cut into a bridge-like 

 form, and the scion slit up the middle, so adapted that it 

 shall be seated across or ride upon the former ; but as in 

 whip grafting the bark must at least on one side be neatly 

 fitted to the bark on the other. This mode of grafting is 

 particularly adapted to the propagation of rhododendrons. 



