152 



THE NATURE STUDY COURSE. 



A tongue 



its lower end to a wedge-shape, having the outer side of 

 the wedge somewhat thicker than the inner. When 

 inserted the bark of the outer side of the wedge of 

 the scion must adjoin the bark of the stock. It is 

 between the soft bark of the scion and the soft bi*rk 

 of the stock that union starts. To prevent the parts 

 from drying out before they unite all the wounded 

 parts must be protected from the air. For this 

 purpose grafting wax is generally used. 



When the stock is little, if any, larger than the 

 scion they are usually spliced by apposing long 

 slanting cuts and tying. Each slanting surface may 

 have a tongue cut in it, and one tongue slipped 

 behind the other to keep the parts in place. These 

 splice-graft, are called splice or whip-grafts. 



A variation of the whip or splice-graft is 

 made by cutting the stock to a long wedge, 

 splitting or cutting a corresponding wedge out 

 of the scion and fitting the scion over the 

 wedge of the stock. This variety is aptly 

 called a saddle-graft, and is frequently done 

 upon roots. 



Full instructions on all kinds of grafting^ 

 budding, etc., may be found in L. H. Bailey's 

 " Nursery Book." A chapter on the details of 

 grafting and budding the peach is given in 

 Hodge's " Nature Study and Life." 



Grafting-Wax. — Melt together eight parts 

 of rosin, five of beeswax and three of tallow. 

 When melted and mixed pour out slowly into a pailful 

 of cold water. Smear the hands with softened tallow or 

 lard and knead or pull the mixture until it becomes like 

 pale yellow taffy. Make it into rolls and wrap with 



A saddle-graft. 



