16 



PROPAGATION. 



Fig. 3. Tongue-grafting, progressive stages. 



Having chosen your stock of the proper size, cut it off at the 

 point where, a, it appears best to fix the graft. If the stock is 

 quite small, it may be within three or four inches of the ground. 

 Then, with a very sharp knife, make a smooth cut upwards, b, 

 about two inches in length. Next make a slit from the top of 

 this cut about one fourth of the way downwards, c, taking out a 

 thin tongue of wood. Cut the scion four or five inches long, or so 

 as to have three buds; then shape the lower end with a single 

 smooth sloping cut, e, about the same length as that on the stock, 

 and make the tongue upward, /, to fit in the downward slit of the 

 stock. Now apply the scion accurately to the stock, making the 

 inner bark of the scion fit exactly the inner bark of the stock, at 

 least on one side, g. Without changing their position, tie them 

 together carefully with a piece of bass-matting or tape, h. And 

 finally cover the wound with well prepared grafting-clay or wax, 

 i. This ball of clay should more than cover the union, by an 

 inch above and below, and should be about an inch thick. If 

 grafting-wax is used, the covering need not be above half an 

 inch thick. 



In a month's time, if the graft has taken, it will be expanding 

 its leaves and sending out shoots. It will then be necessary to 

 rub or cut off all shoots between the ball and the ground, if it is 

 a small stock, or all those which would rob it of a principal share 

 of nourishment, if upon a large tree. If the scion or stock is 

 very weak, it is usual to leave one or two other buds for a time, to 

 assist in drawing up the sap. About the middle of July, after a 

 rainy day, you may remove the ball of clay, and, if the graft is 



