196 



FRUIT CULTURE. 



inner bark and cambium of stock and scion 

 shall coincide. Fig. 28 shows the scion inserted. 

 A bud is usually selected to be at the level 

 of the stock, which will be protected by the 

 covering, and may prove to be the best eye for 

 the future shoot. Generally but one bud above 

 this is left on the scion. If 

 the stock is an inch or more 

 in diameter, the scion will usu- 

 ally be held sufficiently firm, 

 after the withdrawal of the 

 wedge. Should this prove not 

 to be the case, a ligature will 

 be necessary to draw the two 

 sides firmly to the scion. But 

 this involves the removal of 

 the ligature soon after growth 

 commences, and as this is objectionable, it is 

 better to adopt another mode of grafting small 

 stocks. 



The exposed parts and the upper end of the 

 scion, if cut, should immediately be covered with 

 some material impervious to air and rain. Clay 

 worked up with cow dung and hair has been 

 used as a natural and healing plaster. But the 

 application is not easy or agreeable, and worst 

 of all, there is liability to cracking and crum- 

 bling. Grafting wax is more permanent and is 



