24 NEW METHODS OF GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



from a cane of the previous year preserved in sand. This 

 graft does not differ much from that generally adopted for 

 fruit trees, hence its name. 



On a part of the stump (stock) above ground, and on a 

 part deprived of nodosities, where the liber fibres are almost 

 straight, a T-shaped incision is made through the bark, the 

 sides of which are raised with the haft of the grafting- 

 knife (Fig. 34 A). 



The scion is taken from a cane of the previous year's 

 growth, of medium size (Fig. 34 B), cut before the eyes start 

 to burst, and preserved in sand in the same way as is done 

 for the scions of 'the whip-tongue grafts, until the time of 

 grafting. One has not, therefore, to be pre-occupied in this 

 case by the peculiar state of development of the bud, as is 

 the case for the herbaceous graft. It is necessary, however, 

 to use only well-constituted and well-preserved eyes of 

 healthy appearance. 



The scion-bud is excised in the same way as is done for 

 fruit trees, with the only difference that under the eye a 

 thickness of wood is left reaching the pith. One should even 

 leave some pith under the eye. This does not seem to present 

 much difficulty. It may, perhaps, be more clearly under- 

 stood when we say that the scion should be at least 1 inch 

 in length, and that the section opposite the eye must be 

 flat. 



After inserting the bud thus prepared in the incision 

 under the bark of the stock, it is bound firmly with raffia 

 (Figs. 35 and 36), wrapping as close as possible to the eye, 

 without, however, crushing it. Wool has been tried for this 

 purpose, as in the case of the herbaceous graft, but has not 

 been found superior to raffia. 



To insure knitting, the shoots of the stock must be pinched 

 very short. The scion then knits quickly and gives a vigorous 

 shoot, lignifying easily before winter, and upon which the 

 pruning system is started the following spring. A fortnight 

 to twenty days after the execution of the graft, it is easy 

 to ascertain whether it is knitted, but the tie should only be 

 cut one month later, and on the side opposite the scion. 



This graft may be made during the whole period that the 

 sap is circulating, during which the bark is easily detachable 

 from the wood. In our region (Lot) this lies between the 

 15th May and 15th July.* After that date, even admitting 



* November to January in Victoria. 



