362 Cutting Grafts, and Grafting. 



shrink and die out after a few days of hot weather. On the other 

 hand, scions that have bark well shriveled, when set in stocks 

 that have the leaves well started, such scions in a few days will 

 swell ou t the buds and grow finely. Still it is the safest way to 

 have the scions just right, and if they are to be kept until warm 

 weather, they require a good deal of attention to keep them so. 

 Some grafters cut and set the scions the same day ; this plan 

 will sometimes do very well, if the grafting is done very early, 

 but the safest way is to have the scions cut as we have named 

 above. As to the time for grafting, it may be done in this climate 

 any time from the 15th of April, to the 15th of June, or later 

 as may be, more depending on the character of the scions than in 

 the season for success. We have had as good success with these 

 scions set as late as the 10th of June, as with those set earlier in 

 the season ; yet it requires a little more care in sawing off the 

 stock, to prevent barking, etc., in late grafting. One advantage, 

 in late grafting large trees, is, that you will f)nly get a short 

 growth the first season — say from six inches to twelve or fifteen 

 inches growth, and the scions will not be so liable to break off by 

 wind and hail storms the coming winter, as where the scion get 

 two feet or more in growth by early grafting. Still early graft- 

 ing has its advantages, and this work generally should be done 

 in a month from the middle of April to the 20th of May, or by the 

 time the blossoms are well out. Now, as to the manner and kind of 

 grafting to be done on large stocks, the common " cleft grafting" 

 is the best, although this is often done in a bungling manner by 

 green hands. In grafting large trees, to have this work done in 

 a business-like manner, requires three hands at least — namely, 

 one to saw off the limbs and pare the stocks, a second one to set 

 the scions, and a third one to put on the wax. While one or two 

 hands are sawing off and paring the stocks, the third one may be 

 cutting and sharpening the scions, so that no time need be lost. 

 The scions may be cut from two and a half to three inches in 

 length, sharpening the wedge of the scion an inch and a half, leav- 

 ing an inch and a half or so of the scion above the stock after it 

 is set. One side of the scion should be left a little full of timber in 

 sharpening, and this side should be set the outside of the stock. 

 If the scions are large, as some will be, a shoulder may be cut on 

 the scion, but generally this will not be necessary, as large scions 



