92 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



in the trunk, if the old trees are of good size. The following de- 

 scription, which the writer borrows in part from some unknown 

 source, will serve to guide novices in the matter : 



The outfit necessary for doing the work consists of a small, fine saw, 

 a regular grafting knife, or a pocket-knife with a long, straight, sharp 

 blade, wax, light mallet, and a hard-wood narrow wedge. After selecting 

 the limb to be grafted, saw it off your own judgment will guide you as 

 to best point, but before the saw gets quite through the limb, cut the 

 bark on the under side of the limb to prevent the liability of peeling down. 



Next split the stub with knife and mallet and insert the wedge in the 

 center of the cleft to hold it open. It is usual to cut the scion with two 

 buds, but sometimes better results are had by using scions with but a 

 single bud. Whittle the scion wedge-shape, so that it fits nicely down into 

 the cleft. To do this, hold it in the left hand with the bud at the ball of 

 the thumb, then cut the side toward you; as will be natural, turn it over, 

 and cut opposite side in the same w r ay, making the wedge a very little 

 thinner on the edge opposite the bud than the other. This will insure a 

 firm pressure, at the points where the bark of scion and stock meet. 



When set, the bud of the scion will be on line with the outer long 

 portion of the graft. The point to be closely observed in adjustment is to 

 have the inner or sap bark of the scion connected with the same of the 

 stock. If a trifle too far in, or too far out, the work will be a failure. 

 Some people set the graft a little out at the top and a little in at the 

 bottom, so as to be sure of a connection at the crossing-point, but there 

 will be firmer hold if there is a union the whole length. Our rule has been 

 to have the wood of the scion come exactly parallel with the surface of 

 the stock, and we seldom fail in getting firm adhesions and solid limbs, 

 after years of growth. 



After the scion are set, and two should be put into one limb if large, 

 carefully withdraw the wedge and apply the wax, so that every part of the 

 wood and bark cut and split is well coated. In doing this use extreme 

 care not to move the scions at all from their sittings. If the pinch of the 

 stock is seen to be severe, a small wedge may be left in the center to save 

 the scions from crushing. If there is a large cleft, it may be filled with 

 damp clay before waxing over. 



Most grafting over of old trees is done by this method, using 

 one or another of the wax preparations described upon a preceding 

 page. If the cut surface of the stock and the split is thoroughly 

 waxed over as low as the bark is spilt, there is usually little trouble 

 with the growth of the scion and the healing over of the stock. In 

 the warmer valleys in the interior, the sun is often hot enough to 

 melt the wax and cause it to run and bare the wood surfaces. This 

 is prevented by dusting the wax thoroughly with brick-dust well 

 powdered ; but, by a little experimenting with the recipes already 

 given, one can secure a wax which will stand any heat likely to be 

 encountered. 



For grafting over trees by working upon the limbs, the neatest 

 and surest work can be done by methods of grafting which do not 

 require the splitting of the stock. There are various ways of doing 

 this. One method is shown in the engraving on the next page, and 

 consists in cutting the scion as shown, and inserting it beneath the 

 raised bark and then binding well with waxed bands, the preparation 

 of which has already been described. 



