8 THE SUfcUtHBANIfE'S HANDfiObK 



season, when other work is not so pressing, and several pieces of root 

 may be taken from the same tree. While crown grafting requires a 

 whole root for one graft and is intended to be set below the 

 ground where the cion will throw out roots of its own in addition to 

 the original root it is grafted into. The cleft grafting is done in the 

 spring, when the sap begins to flow in the stock, the cions having 

 been cut in the dormant season and stuck in a box of moist soil in 

 the cellar, or are simply stuck in the ground at pruning time, 

 preferably in the shelter of a north wall, the object being to keep 

 them back from sprouting till after the stock has fairly started. 

 The stock is cut off with a sharp pruning knife or shears, and taking 

 a sharp chisel and malet the stock is split sufficiently to allow the 



Whip Grafting 

 Fig. 55 



cion, after it has been cut sloping or wedge shaped, to be inserted 

 into the cleft in the stock, taking care that the cut edges of the 

 shaved cion are accurately adjusted to the edge of the bark in the 

 stock. Generally, the split stock will hold the cion sufficiently secure 

 without tying. The whole point of union is filled up and covered 

 with grafting wax to protect the recently cut portions from exposure 

 to wind, water or sunshine (see cuts illustrating this subject). Some- 

 times it is convenient to bind up the joint with waxed string, de- 

 scribed further on. Whip grafting is used for small branches or 

 young seedlings, where the cion should be of about the same diameter 

 as the stock. Both are cut slanting, and with a harp knife a split is 

 cut downward in the stock, commencing at the middle point of the 



