PROPAGATION BY BUDDING AND GRAFTING 147 



especially on large limbs, and its evils should be mitigated as 

 much as possible by choosing small limbs for the operation. 

 In common practice, the cion (Fig. 167) 

 bears three buds, the lowest one stand- 

 ing just above the wedge. This lowest 

 bud is usually entirely covered with wax, 

 but it pushes through without difficulty. 

 In fact, being nearest the source of food 

 and most protected, its chances of living 

 are greater than those of the higher buds. 

 The sides of the cion must be 



cut smooth and even. A single 



draw cut on each side with a 



sharp blade is much better than 



two or three partial cuts. A 



good grafter makes a cion by 



three strokes of the knife, one 



to cut off the cion and two to 



shape it. The outer edge of 



the wedge should be a little 



thicker than the inner, so that 



the stock will bind on it and 



hold it firm at the point where 



the union first takes place. The twigs from which 



the cions are made are taken in late fall or winter, or 



very early spring, and are kept as directed on page 



137. 

 The stock or stub must be cut off square and 



smooth with a sharp and preferably fine-toothed 



saw * ^ one desires to be specially careful in the 

 Cleft-graft operation, the end of the stub, or at least two oppo- 

 cion (x i). gite gides of it ^ mav be Dressed O ff w j t h a knife, so 



that the juncture between the bark and the wood ma,v be 

 more easily seen. Professional grafters rarely resort to this 



FIG. 166. Cleft-graft- 

 ing (x 1). 



\ 



FIG 167 



