150 



buist's family kitchen gardener. 



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Firr. 



Grafting. — ^Whip or tangue grafting (Fig. 18) 

 is the mode most in use in the best fruit-tree 

 nurseries, and is so called from the manner of 

 cutting both the stock and scion in a sloping di- 

 rection, on one of their sides, sa that when brought 

 together they fit exactly, and thus may be tied 

 together. In former times this species of graft- 

 ing was performed without a slit or tongue, and 

 in that case the former term was more applicable. 

 Subsequently the slit or tongue has been added, 

 which has given rise to the latter term. '• The 

 scion (or shoot, a) and stock (or tree, b) being 

 cut off obliquely, at corresponding angles as near 

 as the operator can judge, make a slit nearly in 

 the centre of the sloping face of the stock down- 

 wards, and a corresponding tongue in the scion 

 upwards — this is called tongueing ; the tongue, or wedge-like 

 process^ forming the upper part of the sloping face of the scion, 

 is then inserted downwards in the cleft of the stock, the inner 

 barks of both being brought closely to unite on one side, so as 

 not to be displaced by tying, which ought to be done immedi- 

 ately with strong cotton twist, tape, or any thready material^ 

 brought in a neat manner several times round the stalk. The 

 next operation is to clay the whole over, an inch thick on every 

 side, from about half an inch below the bottom of the graft to 

 as much over the top of the stock, finishing the whole in a 

 long, oval form, and closing it effectually in every part to ex- 

 clude air and water, which is the sole object of claying. 

 Chrafting Clay is very simply made of any heavy loam pro- 

 cured from a depth of the soil that has not been subject to 

 culture, combined with a fourtn of droppings from the horse 

 or cow stable, moistened and well beat together with a stick, 

 till perfectly incorporated and tough, allowed to stand for a 

 few days, and then softened for use. These materials are al- 

 ways at command ; there are several kinds of grafting wax, but 



