146 



THE NURSERY-MANUAL 



lished. Some species may be transferred to the open border 

 or to nursery rows in the spring, but most plants grafted 

 in this way are handled in pots the following season. 

 Rhododendrons, Japanese maples and many conifers are some 

 of the plants multiplied by veneer-grafting. Such plants are 

 usually laid on their sides in frames and covered with moss 



for several days, or until heal- 

 ing begins. 



This method, when used 

 with hardy or tender plants, 

 gives a great advantage in 

 much experimental work, be- 

 cause the stock is not injured 

 by a failure, and can be used 

 over again many times, per- 

 haps even in the same sea- 

 son; and the manipulation is 

 simple, and easily acquired by 

 inexperienced hands. 



The cleft-graft 



In cleft-grafting, the stock is 

 cut off squarely and split, and 

 into the split a cion with a 

 wedge-shaped base is inserted. It is adapted to large stocks, 

 and is the method employed for top-grafting old trees, its 

 only competitor being the bark-graft described on page 160. 

 Figs. 166, 167 illustrate the operation. 



The end of the stock, technically called a "stub," is usually 

 large enough to accommodate two cions, one on either side. 

 In fact, it is better to use two cions, not only because they 

 double the chances of success, but because they hasten the 

 healing of the stub. Cleft-grafting is at best a harsh process, 



FIG. 165. Veneer-graft (x 



