96 



GRAFTING OPERATIONS 



over to good varieties and made to do their part. Some- 

 times whole orchards are grafted over to other varieties. 

 (Fig. 44.) 



Cleft Grafting. In top-working trees the oldest and 

 probably most used graft is the cleft. This works success 

 fully on branches from one-half inch in diameter up to two or 

 three inches and may be used on those as large as six inches. 



--.V".%y-7^ '-; - s * ."- "> ~. '-.*' 



"^-' *? : }~.i-\~:' ifiTi ;' v 



FIG. 44. Working over an Almond Orchard to Prunes in California. 



Cions may be placed down close to the ground or up in 

 the tops of old trees. The work should be done in the spring 

 before growth normally starts and while both stock and 

 cion are still dormant. Summer grafting may be done, 

 but the practice is not general. 



In performing the operation, the stock is cut squarely 

 across with a fine saw and a cleft made down about one 

 and one-half inches. The cion should contain at least 



