162 THE NURSERY-MANUAL 



"The ragged edges of the bark around the wound are cut back to live 

 tissue (Fig. 191 B). At the points above and below the wound where each 

 cion is to be inserted, the bark is slit about one-half or three-quarters of 

 an inch. The cion should be about one and one-half inches longer than 

 the space to be abridged, and is beveled on each end with a straight cut 

 about an inch long. This beveling exposes considerable cambium layer 

 and facilitates the insertion of the cion under the bark and against the 

 cambium layer of the stock. The bark at the slit below the wound is 

 loosened with the knife, and the lower end of the cion is inserted with the 

 cut side next to the wood of the tree. In order that the cambium layers 

 of cion and stock may be held in close contact, a brad is driven through 

 the end of the cion into the tree. The slit at the upper edge of the wound 

 is then loosened and the other end of the cion inserted and nailed. When 

 the bridging is completed, the area about the ends of the cions is care- 

 fully waxed to prevent drying out and possible infection and to exclude 

 air and moisture. In some cases it may be advisable to wrap the parts 

 where the cions are inserted with bandage or raffia to insure their being 

 held in place. For a tree with a trunk one and a half inches or less in 

 diameter, usually three cions in the bridge are enough. With each inch 

 added to the diameter, at least one cion should be added to the bridge. 



"If the principle that the cambium layers of stock and cion should come 

 in contact is carefully carried out, other forms of bridge-grafting may be 

 used with success. One of these is illustrated in Fig. 191 C. Here cuts 

 are made about half an inch above and below the girdle through the bark 

 into the sapwood, thus cutting across the cambium layer. The cions for 

 this bridge are made very much as those previously described. They are 

 inserted, nailed, and waxed in a similar way. Still another method of 

 bridge-grafting, which some growers have found very satisfactory, is 

 illustrated in Fig. 191 D. The cambium layer of the stock is exposed 

 by cutting out pieces of bark above and below the girdle, corresponding 

 accurately in size with the ends of the cion to be inserted. The cions 

 are cut as shown in Fig. 191 D and are nailed and waxed as in the method 

 already described. 



"Bridge-grafting may be used on any of the orchard fruit trees grown 

 in New York State. More damage by girdling is probably done on apple 

 and pear trees than on any other fruits ; however plum, cherry and peach 

 trees are often injured, and bridge-grafting, which is the only method of 

 saving them, is well worth trial. It is advisable to replace very young 

 trees unless the girdled portion is far enough above the root system to 

 permit of cleft-grafting in the trunk just below the girdle. If bridge- 

 grafting is skillfully done, and the bridged portion carefully attended 



