168 POPULAR FRUIT GROWING. 



is cut and inserted, when it is withdrawn, allowing the stock to 

 close on the cion and so hold it in place. If the stock does not. 

 spring back so as to hold the cion firmly, it should be tightly 

 drawn together with a string. The number of cions inserted 

 will depend on the size of the stock. If the stock is not over 

 three-quarters of an inch in diameter, one cion is enough to in- 

 sert, but on larger stocks one may be put in each side of the 

 cleft. All the cut surfaces, including the ends of the cion, should 

 now be covered with wax, as shown in fig. 83. 



The cion to be inserted in cleft grafting should be cut 

 wedge-shaped lengthwise and its cross-section should also be 

 wedge-shaped. Fig. 83 represents a cross-section through a 

 newly made graft, showing cleft in the stock and two cions 

 in place (note how the edges of the wood come together). Fig. 

 83 also shows the successive stages in cleft grafting. 



Whip grafting is illustrated in fig. 84. When finished, all 

 the cut surfaces should be covered with grafting wax or waxed 

 paper. In this form of grafting it is seldom that the in- 

 ner barks come together on more than one side of the cion 

 and stock. It is a method that is very quickly performed by 

 one accustomed to it, but its use is limited to branches or stems 

 under three-quarters of an inch in diameter, but for stocks com- 

 ing within this limit, it is very convenient and reliable. It is 

 much used by nurserymen in root-grafting apple, pear and 

 plum seedlings. It is done to a large extent during the win- 

 ter months, when but little can be accomplished out of doors. 



Root-grafting. Seedlings, which are dug in autumn and 

 packed in sawdust or moss in a cold cellar, are taken as need- 

 ed, to a warm room and cions grafted upon them just be- 

 low the collar, i. e., the place where the root and top are joined, 

 where only one graft is made to a root. The kind of graft made 

 Is illustrated in fig. 84 which shows the successive stages of 

 the work. A common practice among nurserymen Is to use a 

 cion about sfx inches long and insert it on a root about three 

 inches long, the treatment in every respect being the same as 

 where only one graft is made up from each root. In each case, 

 when completed, the union is wrapped with a strip of paper 

 or cloth about three-fourths of an inch wide which has previously 



