CLEFT GRAFTING 



235 



have taken place by that time, and when planted in the 

 nursery row the scions will start to grow. 



Cleft Grafting. When branches of from one to two 

 inches in diameter are grafted, the cleft graft is the method 

 commonly used. This consists simply in cutting off the 

 branch at right angles and with a grafting chisel making 

 a cleft deep enough 

 to accommodate the 

 scions. For this pur- 

 pose the scions are 

 collected during the 

 late fall or early winter, 

 although success is fre- 

 quently obtained with 

 scions cut at the time 

 of grafting. The twigs 

 selected should be 

 about eight to ten 

 inches long, of the past 

 season's growth. They 

 are then generally cut 

 into pieces each con- 

 taining two or three 

 buds. The base of a 

 scion is trimmed to 

 form a wedge, about 

 one and a half inches long. The outer edge of the wedge 

 is made slightly thicker so that the pressure of the stock 

 against it on this side may bring the cambium layers in 

 close contact. It is also desirable to have a bud on the 

 outside of the scion just above the wedge. The scions 

 are then inserted into the cleft in such a manner that the 



Fig. 128. Bridge grafting. When the bark of fruit 

 trees has been injured by mice or rabbits the 

 trees may often be saved by this method of 

 grafting. 



