138 



THE NURSERY-MANUAL 



The whip-graft 



Whip- or tongue-grafting is employed only on small stocks, 

 usually those one or two years old. Both the cion and stock 

 are cut across diagonally, the cut surface ex- 

 tending from 1 to 2 inches, according to the size 

 of the part. A vertical cleft is then made in 

 both, and the two are joined by inserting the 

 tongue of the cion into the cleft of the stock. 

 The operation can be understood by reference 

 to Figs. 152, 153. Fig. 152 shows the end of a 

 cion, cut natural size. The stock is cut in the 

 same way, and the two are joined in Figs. 153, 

 154, 155, 156. The parts are held firmly 

 by a bandage as bass bark or raffia 

 FIG 152 Cions ~ passed five or six times around 

 them. If the graft is to stand above 

 ground, the wound must be protected 

 by applying wax over the bandage. 



Any sharp and strong thin-bladed knife may be 

 used for the making of whip-grafts. For small and 

 tender plants, a common budding-knife is sufficient, 

 but it is too light for most work. A good style 

 of knife for root-grafting is shown in Fig. 157. It 

 is much like a shoe-knife, with large cylindrical 

 handle and a stationary blade. 



Root-grafting, particularly of fruit stocks, is 

 performed almost entirely by the whip-graft, in 

 winter. The stocks, either one or two years old, are 

 dug and stored in autumn. In January or February Whip-graft 

 the grafting is begun. In true root-grafting, only P sition 

 pieces of roots are used ; but most nurserymen 

 prefer to use the whole root and graft at the crown, making 

 the strong "root-grafts" of commerce known as "whole roots." 



of w h i p-g raft 

 (xl). 



FIG. 153. 



