The Story-Book of the Fields 



is absolutely necessary for the bark of the 

 graft to be in contact with the bark of the 

 stock, so that on either side the channels of 

 the descending sap may communicate and 

 mingle their new substances. If the size 

 of the stock requires more than two grafts 

 it is better, instead of repeatedly cutting 

 through the centre, to make lateral splits, 

 which will have less effect on the strength of 

 the support. 



The following method may be adopted, 

 which does not require the splits which are 

 so hard to heal in the old wood. Half of the 

 lower part of the graft is cut away length- 

 ways, and the thickness of the remaining 

 half is gradually reduced from the upper to 

 the lower extremity. When thus shaped 

 the grafts are inserted between the wood 

 and the bark of the stock. This operation 

 is facilitated by the spring sap, when the 

 bark is easily separated from the wood. If 

 a rent is to be feared from the graft acting 

 as a wedge, a slight cut is made in the bark 

 to admit of free play. In this way the cir- 

 cumference of the stock may receive as 

 many grafts as are thought necessary, and 

 all that is now required is to fix the whole 

 with bandages and to cover the wounds 



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