CLEFT GRAFTING 99 



union will fit better. If the stock is one inch or more in 

 diameter two cions are inserted. If both grow, one can 

 be removed at the close of the first year. It will also be 

 necessary to guard against the crushing of the tender cion 

 from the spring of the wood in making the cleft. To avoid 

 this, two methods are available. One is to put a small wedge 

 in the center of the cleft to ease the pressure off the cion. 

 The other is to make the cleft across the edge of the stock 

 rather than through the center. The latter method is 

 preferable as it is easier to make and permits of healing 

 somewhat quicker than where split through the center. 

 Besides, the position of the cleft can always be regulated 

 so as to get just enough pressure to hold the cion in posi- 

 tion and make tying unnecessary. 



After the cion is in position the union should be waxed 

 over. If the stock is a very small one it will be necessary 

 to tie the graft, but on the larger limbs the natural spring 

 of the wood will hold the cion as tight as necessary. The 

 wax should be applied to all the exposed places, covering 

 the entire end of the stock and down the side as far as the 

 cleft goes. Sometimes a drop of wax is placed on the end 

 of the cion. If the waxing is done some time before growth 

 starts in the spring, it may be necessary to go over the 

 grafts a second time to be sure that all of the unions are 

 properly sealed up. Not all the cions will grow and many 

 that do grow will not start until some time after the normal 

 growth. 



The grafts will have to be watched through the summer 

 and as the growth develops some pruning will be necessary. 

 Sprouts will often develop around the graft and these will 



