SUMMER CARE OF PLANTATION 



73 



slight angle so the cambium layers of stock and scion shall be in 

 contact and so they will be held snugly in place when the wedge is 

 removed. After removing the wedge cover all wounded surfaces with 

 grafting wax (Fig. 56). 



In two to four weeks one or both of these scions should grow (Fig. 

 57). When both grow cut off the poorer if the stock is under one 

 inch, but let both grow the first season if the stock is larger so as to 

 heal over the stub quickly. In such cases cut the inferior one slightly 

 above its base, preferably just as growth starts the following Spring. 



Bridge or repair graft- 

 ing, done to save injured 

 trees, consists in inserting 

 scions both below and 

 above the wound and long 

 enough to stretch across. 

 The whole is then covered 

 with grafting wax or ban- 

 dages. In due time growth 

 will be as shown in Figure 

 58. 



Whip or tongue graft- 

 ing is very convenient for 

 branches about one- 

 quarter inch in diameter. 

 Stock and scion must be 

 of nearly the same size. 

 Each is first cut across 

 with a long slanting cut. 

 Then each is split with 

 the knife for about an inch 

 straight down near the 

 center, thus forming a 

 tongue. Stock and scion 

 are then fitted together so 

 the shorter tongue of each 



Fig.\58. Rabbits gnawed the bark off this tree but 

 bridge grafting will make a new trunk. Notice 

 thej'sturdy "bridges" across the wounded area 



fits firmly into the slot of 



the other, care being taken 



to have the cambium 



layers in contact. If parts 



of the longer tongues extend beyond the point of union shorten them. 



The usual way of finishing this graft is to wind stock and scion with 



knitting cotton soaked in grafting wax. No. 18 darning cotton is strong 



enough to hold the parts but weak enough to break as growth begins. 



