76 MODES OF GRAFTING. 



the graft is inserted between the bark and the wood of the 

 stock, it is tied firmly and the union covered with clay or 

 mastic in the usual manner. If the stock is large, two or more 

 grafts may be inserted at equal distances apart. As will be 

 seen, the stock in this case is prepared on the same principle 

 as the stock in budding, only the top of the stock is headed 

 completely off instead of the cross or T cut, and a several- 

 budded graft is employed instead of a single bud. 



Cleft-Grafting. This method differs from the last, the wood 

 of the stock being cleft or split so as to receive the scions, and 

 it is generally advisable that the stock be larger 'in diameter 

 than the graft. If the stock is of moderate size, the blade of 

 the grafting-knife is placed on the top of the 

 stock and pressed down so as to form a cleft. 

 It is allowed to remain, acting as a wedge 

 or lever to keep open the cleft while the 

 scion is being inserted, after which it is with- 

 drawn, and the elasticity of the stock closing 

 together keeps the scion firmly in its place. As 

 in the last mode, several scions (b c) . may be 

 placed on one stock (a) if of sufficient diameter, 

 after which tie and anoint the union and top 

 of the stock with mastic as usual. This method 

 and the last are peculiarly adapted for renovat- 

 ing old fruit-trees which have previously been 

 headed down for this purpose. Some, however, 

 prefer to head them down the season before 

 they are grafted, and then graft on the young 

 shoots which they have made near the top by splice or whip 

 grafting. 



Terminal Cleft-Grafting. This mode is rarely practised, but 

 deserves to be known, as it has succeeded with the Walnut, 

 which is not one of the easiest of subjects to graft, and also in 

 the case of some Conifers. The stock is not headed down as 

 in the last method, but a vertical slit is made right through the 

 terminal bud, as shown in our figure. The scion consists of a 

 terminal shoot of two or three eyes, and is prepared by being 

 sliced like a wedge at its base, and then fitted accurately into 

 the slit in the stock. The genus Pinus may be propagated in 

 this manner during July and August, or just when the scion 

 and stock acquire the requisite consistence or density ; or the 

 shoot used as the stock may be cut off just below the terminal 

 group of buds when the sap first begins to flow in the spring 

 say April or May. This is slit as in cleft-grafting, the leaves 

 being removed just around the slit. The scion taken from 



