176 



The Rose Garden. 



width and length of the cut, this must be regulated by the size of the grafts in hand ; as 

 to depth, the wound should not extend quite so far as the centre or pith of the stock. 

 The piece being removed, the scion d must be cut to fill up the vacuity : and the 

 more completely it does this the greater is the chance of success. The most essential 

 point is to bring the inner bark of the scion in exact contact with the inner bark of the 

 stock. When the scion is fitted in it should be bound securely there with soft bast. 

 It is then necessary to cover the place of junction with some composition that will 

 effectually exclude air and water. For this purpose take the following ingredients : 

 five-eighths black pitch, one-eighth each of bees'-wax, tallow, and resin. Put them to- 

 gether in a glue-pot and melt them down over a slow fire. The best way of laying on 

 the composition is by the use of a flat stick. It is not necessary to cover the whole of 

 the bandage. Take care, however, that the lines where the barks join indeed, what- 



Fig. 56. CLEFT-GRAFTING. 



ever part the wound extends to be rendered impervious to air and moisture. The 

 wound at the top of the stock should be covered, and also the summit of the scion. 

 Care must be taken not to apply the composition too hot, or the bark will be scalded, 

 and success rendered doubtful. A good way to test its fitness for use is to place a 

 little on the finger of the operator, when, if it does not cause any unpleasant sensation, 

 it may be used without fear. This composition, though soft and pliable in a warm 

 state, becomes hard and impenetrable when cold. 



2. WEDGE-GRAFTING. This is more simple than the foregoing. In many points 

 the modes of procedure are the same ; we have only to notice the differences. 

 Instead of inserting the scion in one side of the stock, we here split the stock down 

 the centre to the extent of three-quarters of an inch, and insert the graft in the slit. 

 In preparing the graft, pare off equal parts from two opposite sides, that the lower end 

 may be in the form of a wedge. Push the wedge in the slit of the stock, binding it 

 firmly in, and covering with the composition as before. 



