CHAPTER XXVII. 



Grafting, 



Grafting can be done successfully, and it is recommended 

 when small or dwarfish varieties of the citrus family are used 

 for stocks, or when large limbs or bearing trees are required to 

 be changed to a different variety. 



If the stock be of a small or dwarfish habit of growth, and 

 the grafting be done while the trees are young, the grafts can be 

 inserted in the crown of the roots ; then when the trees are 

 transplanted they can be set deep enough for the graft to throw 

 out roots. They will readily do this if planted deep enough, 

 thus becoming, in time, independent of the root of the stock. 



The common cleft graft is the usual and best method of graft- 

 ing the citrus family. After scraping the dirt away from the 

 body of the stock close up to the roots and about them, leaving 

 the crown exposed, 'cut or saw off the body of the stock almost 

 or quite down to the surface of the roots. Then, with a grafting 

 knife, split the stock, if small, through the middle or nearly so. 

 If large, split one side about an inch from the outer edge. It 

 is well to use a wedge to hold the split apart so as to admit the 

 graft easily. The grafts should be selected with care. Use the 

 matured wood of the last season's growth. The scion should be 

 long enough to contain three buds. Cut away the but-end of 

 the graft with a long tapering wedge shape, and also slightly 

 wedge-shaped on the edge that is to be placed inward or towards 

 the heart of the stock. Press the graft down firm and solid 

 into the cleft, and be careful to have the bark of both graft and 

 stock come in contact with each other at the outer edge, so that 

 the union of the sap may be instantaneous. Now withdraw the 

 wedge no vvedge is needed in very small stocks and with a 



