34 Grafting. 



BUSHBERG CATALOGUE. 



Grafting. 



caused by the frost. In this latitude, however, 

 we often have fine days in February and early 

 in March, when the ground is open and before 

 the active flow of sap has commenced, which 

 should be improved for the operation. Still 

 farther north, where the ground opens late 

 and spring comes in abruptly, these days are 

 generally so few that they can seldom be made 

 of any use. For these latitudes the best oppor- 

 tunity lies in the second period, or during the 

 time in which the sap has ceased its active flow 

 and exudes from the wound in a gummy state. 

 Some even claim good success in mid-summer 

 with scions of the same season's growth. 



In describing the operation proper, of graft- 

 ing in the several different methods, we do not 

 think that we could give better directions than 

 by following largely an excellent new French 

 work, " Traite the'orique et pratique du Greffage de 

 la Vigne," by AIME CHAMPIN, an eminent and 

 most intelligent practical vineyardist, and a 

 most spirited and elegant writer, who has 

 treated the subject in an exhaustive work. 

 His book has also been translated into the Ger- 

 man language by Dr. ROESLER. (" Der Wein- 

 bau, seine Cultur und Veredlung, von Aime 

 Champin. A. Hartleben & Co. : Wien, 1882.") 

 To Mr. Champin we are also indebted for the 

 cuts relating to grafting, which are part of the 

 seventy excellent illustrations embellishing 

 Mr. Champin's work. These cuts were drawn 

 from Nature, with rare accuracy and skill, by 

 Miss Aim^e Champin. To all who are inter- 

 ested in the question of grape grafting, we nan 

 recommend this work as one of the very best 

 on the subject. 



Fig. 45. 



The method of grafting most generally ap- 

 plied for larger stocks, or for plants which are 

 already established in the open ground, is 

 "CLEFT GRAFTING." After clearing away the 

 soil around the collar of the stock to be oper- 

 ated upon,, to the depth of 3 or 4 inches, select 

 a place below the surface with a smooth exte- 

 rior around the collar ; just above this place 

 cut the vine off horizontally with a tine- toothed 

 saw, or, in the case of smaller stocks, with a 

 sharp knife ; , then split the stock with a com- 

 mon grafting chisel, or other sharp instrument, 

 so that the cleft will run down about 1 \ or 2 

 inches. Insert the small end of the grafting 

 chisel, or a narrow wedge, in the centre of the 

 cleft in order to keep it open, and then with a 

 very sharp knife cut your scion which may be 

 3 to 4 inches long and have one or two eyes 

 to a long wedge-shape at the lower end, so as 

 to fit the cleft, leaving the outer side a trifle 

 thicker than the inner one ; insert it in the 

 cleft so that the inner bark of both stock and 

 scion may as much as possible make a close fit 

 on each other ; then withdraw the wedge in the 

 centre, and the scion will be held firmly in its 

 place by the pressure of the stock. If the stock 

 is a large one two scions may be inserted, one 

 on each side. This mode of grafting answers 

 for stocks varying from one-half to three inches 

 in diameter. (See Figs. 45 and 46.) 



Though not absolutely necessary with large 

 stocks, it is best to wind the grafted plant 

 tightly with some strong coarse string, or other 

 suitable material, in order to bind stock and 

 graft together. Then cover it with a grafting- 

 clay ; this clay is best made by thoroughly mix- 

 ing one part fresh cowdung with four parts of 

 ordinary tenacious clay. Grafting- wax, such as 



Fig. 40. 



