230 PRINCIPLES OF PLANT CULTURE 



399. Approach-grafting is now seldom employed, except 

 in a few plants that unite poorly by other methods. It 

 is 'only possible between two plants in close proximity, 

 or between parts of the same plant, since the cion is not 

 severed from the parent until it has united with the 

 stock. The plants are nourished by their own roots 

 until the union takes place. 



Approach grafting is performed during or just pre- 

 vious to the growing season. The parts are held in con- 

 tact by binding them with raffia; the juncture should 

 also be waxed if the work is done in the open air. 



Two methods of approach grafting are in use : 



(a) A shaving reaching into the cambium layer is re- 

 moved from both stock and graft on the sides toward 

 each other (Fig. 130), and the cut surfaces are brought 

 together and closely bound until they unite (Fig. 131), 

 after which the cion is cut off below, and the stock above, 

 the union. 



(6) The top of the stock is cut off with a long sloping cut, 

 preferably behind the bud, and the cut surface of the 

 remaining part is inserted beneath the bark of the graft, 

 as described in side grafting (393), except that the T-cut 

 is inverted, and the stock is inserted from beneath. 



The graft is cut off below the point of union when the 

 parts are fully united. 



In both these methods the cion should be severed 

 gradually to avoid a check to the growth. 



