60 THE GEAPE CULTUEIST. 



or December, varying according to latitude, dig away 

 the soil from around the stock (which may be of any 

 size, from one-half inch to two inches in diameter) to 

 the depth of four to six inches, or on a level with the 

 surface ; then cut it oif, and split in the ordinary man- 

 ner for cleft grafting ; make the graft of one eye with 

 about four inches of wood, and insert it in the stock, 

 being careful to have the inner bark of the stock and 

 graft meet, then tie in the graft by 

 winding around the stock some 

 bass-bark or strong twine enough to 

 hold it firmly in place. Fig. 20 

 shows the graft inserted and ready 

 for tying. Next, throw in soil 

 enough to fill up around the graft, 

 leaving the bud just above the sur- 

 face ; then put a flower-pot (a box 

 will answer the purpose) inverted 

 over the graft, as seen in Fig. 21 ; 

 then bank up, d, d, around the 

 flower-pot to the top, but not over 

 it ; now put on some straw, e, say 

 six inches deep, and cover the earth, 

 /, over all. In this manner the 

 graft is perfectly protected against 

 the frost, and it has all winter to 

 perfect a union with the stock, and 

 by spring it is ready to grow. It 

 FIG - 20 - should not be uncovered until the 



cold, freezing weather is over. It is necessary that a 

 box or flower-pot should be placed immediately over the 

 graft, so that when it is uncovered in spring the graft 

 will not be disturbed by digging down to uncover it ; 

 and it also protects the graft from being injured by 

 water running down it and getting in between the graft 

 and the stock. I have sometimes used grafting wax for 



