6 9 6 



Gardening for Amateurs 



that either do not seed at all or only 

 very reluctantly. Some of our highly 

 specialised varieties are totally unable to 

 produce satisfactory crops by their own 

 energy and we need to unite them to another 

 plant which has strong, vigorous roots, in 

 order to encourage the grafts to produce 

 pleasing results. The very opposite is some- 

 times the case ; plants may grow rampantly 

 on their own roots to the material disadvan- 

 tage of any useful products, but on the roots 

 of another variety the free growth is curbed 

 or dwarfed and we often have a fruitful and 



to bind the parts tightly and clay or wax 

 is essential to render the wounds air-tight. 

 Grafting clay is a soft paste of clay 2 parts, 

 cow dung 1 part, and a little chopped straw 

 or hay to make it more cohesive. Wax or 

 mastic can be bought for the purpose in any 

 shop or made by melting together 2 Ibs. 

 resin, 1 Ib. tallow and Ib. beeswax, pouring 

 the mixture into cold water and then working 

 it in the hands until it is like putty. A 

 wax which is painted on hot is made as 

 follows : Burgundy pitch 1 Ib., resin 8 Ibs., 

 tallow 4 Ibs., and red ochre 3 Ibs. The resin, 

 pitch and tallow are 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 2. Fig. 3. 



Showing how wedge or cleft grafting is 



prolific plant giving the utmost satisfaction. 

 By grafting we have varieties true to name 

 just as in propagation from cuttings ; un- 

 suitable plants are made to do useful work in 

 bearing other varieties, and in some cases 

 the flavour of the fruit or the colour of the 

 flowers is benefited by a judicious union with 

 another stock. 



To ensure success in all grafting operations 

 sharp tools are required, in order that the 

 cut may be cleanly and neatly made ; a 

 strong, sharp knife is the most useful im- 

 plement, but when larger subjects are being 

 dealt with a saw becomes necessary along 

 with a chisel and mallet to pare the wood 

 evenly ; strong string and raffia are needed 



melted in a pot, the 

 ochre stirred into the 

 liquid, and the four 

 thoroughly mixed 

 together. 



Many are the 

 methods employed 

 for grafting the scion 

 on the stock, but of 

 these we shall simply 

 mention the com- 

 monest. Most popu- 

 lar of all is 



Whip or Tongue 

 Grafting. The top 

 of the stock is cut in 

 ''W& a s ^ an ^ m direction 



^/| and then a piece is 



removed from the 

 side beginning 2 to 3 

 inches down and 

 tapering inwards as 

 the knife is drawn 

 up ; a notch is then made in this side 

 cut near the top. The scion has to be 

 cut to fit into this notch and to cover 

 as completely as possible the part removed 

 from the side of the stock ; cut the 

 bottom of the scion at a slant and make a 

 notch in it the same size as the tongue left 

 on the side of the stock. The two should 

 now be fitted together in such a way that the 

 inner bark or cambium layers may coincide 

 and then the whole must be tightly tied with 

 twine or raffia. Do not keep the wounds 

 exposed to the air too long or the cells 

 shrivel up and there is a lessened chance of 

 successful union taking place ; to the same 

 end, also, cover the whole of the wound with 



Fig. 4. 

 carried out. 



