120 GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



is better as in figure 51 to set it a little within or towards 

 the heart of the stock, and the base of the scion a little out, 

 and when the scion and stock cross each other, a meeting 

 of the edges will be certain, and even a novice will thus 

 succeed. One or two scions are set in the stock according 

 to its size ; the wedge is then withdrawn, and 

 the whole carefully covered with the composi- 

 tion so as to exclude all air and moisture. 



Root Grafting. Both the whip and cleft 

 modes are successfully applied in root graft- 

 ing, but splice grafting is more generally in 

 use. In root grafting fruit trees, the best 

 stocks for the purpose are seedlings which are 

 cut off at the collar and grafts inserted in 

 one or the other of these modes, according to 

 the size of the stock. If such stocks cannot 

 be got, roots f thrifty trees may be em- 

 ployed, but are more apt to produce diseased 

 trees. This work can be performed at any 

 leisure time during the winter, and when the 

 winters are mild and open, they should be 

 set out in the open ground at once and 

 covered about an inch above the point of 

 junction with soil. 



In^ colder latitudes they are packed closely in small 

 boxes with sandy earth among the roots, and kept in a 

 cool cellar until they can be planted in spring. In root 

 grafting, either waxed cloth or twine is used to hold the 

 scions in place. 



In grafting, as in budding, always have sharp instru- 

 ments ; make the cuts clean and smooth ; bring the inner 

 bark, that is, the active young parts, of stock and scion 

 in close contact, by a permanent pressure of the stock up- 

 on its scion ; the top of the scion should be cut off next 

 to a bud, and have a bud just beneath the shoulder where 

 it unites with the stock j every portion of the wound 



