156 



THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



FIG. 5 S.-Crown Grafting. 



of the scion. It is a method specially applicable in the renova- 

 tion of old standard trees of poor varieties. Two or three stout 



branches (say two inches in diameter) of the 

 stock are severed with a slightly oblique 

 cut. On each of the stumps longitudinal 

 incisions two inches in length are made 

 in the bark. The bark is then opened by 

 means of the handle of the budding knife 

 along one side only of the incision. This 

 will serve to grip the scion and hold it in 

 position. The other side is left untouched, 

 and the scion must be so shaped that one 

 portion of its bark and cambial layer fits 



aS dOSel y aS P OSsible a S ainst the P er Pen- 



dicular undisturbed edge of the incision. 

 The scions having been inserted, the whole is bound round with 

 bast and covered with grafting wax. . 



Where considerable numbers of young trees of a particular 

 variety are required there may be a difficulty in obtaining the 

 requisite number of scions for grafting. In such cases it is more 

 economical and just as effective to bud the trees instead of 

 grafting them. Apples, Pears, Cherries, Plums, and Roses may 

 be propagated readily by this 

 method. The operation is car- 

 ried out at the end of July. A 

 T-shaped incision (see Fig. 60) 

 is made in the bark of the stock 

 and the bark slightly opened 

 with the handle of the budding 

 knife to admit the bud. The 

 bud, which must be a vegeta- 

 tive one, is taken from about 

 the middle of a shoot of the 

 current year. To cut out this 

 bud, an oval incision is made in 

 the bark which surrounds it, 

 and then by means of a scooping cut the bud, bark, and a small 

 portion of the underlying wood are cut out. The whole length 



FIG. 59. Whip and Tongue Grafting. 



