68 



MANUAL OF GENERAL AGRICULTURE. 



buds. Cut the lower end, which is to be inserted into the 

 cleft, into the shape of a wedge, having the outer edge 

 thicker than the inner 

 (fig. 7.) Cut a scion so 

 that the lowest bud will 

 come just at the top of 

 this wedge, so that it 

 will be near the top of 

 the stock. The advan- 

 tage of cutting the 

 wedge thicker on one 

 side is illustrated in 

 figure 7, which shows 

 how the pressure of the 

 stock is brought upon 

 the outer growing parts 

 of both the^scjpn and 

 the stock, whereas were 

 the scion thicker on the 

 inner side the condi- 

 tions would be reversed, 

 and the death of the 



scion would follow. To Fl ' 6 --^' Orafting ; a the scion; 



, , ' b, scions inserted in cleft. 



make the contact of the 



growing portion doubly certain, set the scion at a slight 

 angle with the stock into which it is inserted in order to 

 cause the growing portions of the two to cross. After the 

 scions have been set, complete the op- 

 eration of cleft grafting by covering all 

 cut surfaces with a layer of grafting 

 wax. In case both scions "take," after 

 a good growth of leaves has appeared, 

 cut off evenly at the stock the scion 

 which appears the weaker. Wax the 

 cut place. Only one should be allowed 

 to continue growing. 



FIG. 7. Cross sec- 

 tion of stock and 

 scion. 



