CLEFT GRAFT ABOVE GROUND. 53 



tin or lead foil f inch to 1 inch wide, and 2 inches to 3 inches 

 long, leaving only the bnd of the scion showing. The lead 

 foil, which in the case of underground grafts may be in- 

 jurious, is indispensable in this case if grafting wax is not 

 used. A strong raffia ligature is then made. 



It is very important to insert the scion in the cleft level 

 with its top section, as it is essential to prevent the action 

 of the air on the sections of both stock and scion, for one of 

 the main causes of failures in grafts above ground is that the 

 scion is left exposed to the air. 



If we proceed in the above-described manner this graft 

 will knit as well as that performed underground. We also 

 avoid the excess of humidity which may be present in a soil, 

 naturally too wet, or so caused by heavy rains. On the other 

 hand, if the weather is very warm the scion is not liable to 

 desiccate as in the case of underground grafts surrounded 

 with dry soil. The knitting takes place very satisfactorily 

 when tin-foil is used for binding, and the scions grow 

 vigorously. 



With this mode of operating we can perform an ordinary 

 cleft, or side cleft graft. The latter should be preferred if 

 we have to deal with planted-out stocks ; if the soil is pebbly 

 or too wet, it dispenses with the earthing-up. It is also 

 useful if we desire to change a variety without losing any 

 crop. In this case if we have to deal with vines trained on 

 cor.dons, a water shoot is left as low as possible, and, in 

 winter, pruned with two eyes. It is grafted, and the cordon 

 continued to be pruned in the usual manner, until the graft 

 can start bearing a crop. 



If the vines are trained in the gooseberry-bush fashion, 

 the bud should be preserved in the centre of the stump, 

 pruned with two eyes and grafted; the other spurs are 

 pruned as usual and removed when the graft has become 

 strong enough to bear fruit. The best time to perform this 

 graft is April or May,* after the vine has ceased bleeding. 



Other methods for cleft grafting above ground. A cane is 

 selected on the stock and cut f inch above the bud upon 

 which the graft is to be performed. (Fig. 56.) A cleft is 

 made on one side of it starting ^ inch above the bud, being 

 careful to split the cane along its axis ; the scion cut wedge 

 shape is inserted in the cleft and a strong ligature made as 

 before* 



* October or November in Victoria. 



