BOOK V. XI. 7-IO 



so that there is a cleft of three inches in it. Then 

 insert a wedge by which the cleft may be kept open, 

 and thrust down into it scions which have been pared 

 away on both sides, in such a way as to make the bark 

 of the scion exactly meet the bark of the tree. When 8 

 you have carefully fitted in the scions, pull out the 

 wedge and bind the tree in the manner desci'ibed 

 above ; then heap the earth round the tree right up 

 to the graft. This will give the best protection from 

 wind and heat. 



A third kind of grafting is our own invention ; 

 being a very delicate operation, it is not suited to 

 every kind of tree. Generally speaking those trees 

 admit of this kind of grafting which have moist, juicy 

 and strong bark, like the fig-tree ; for this both yields 9 

 a great abundance of milk and has a stout bark, and 

 so a graft can be very successfully inserted by the 

 following method. On the tree from which you wish 

 to take your grafts, you should seek out young and 

 healthy branches, and you should look out on them 

 for a bud which has a good appearance and gives 

 sure promise of producing a sprout. Make a mark 

 round it enclosing two square inches, so that the 

 bud is in the middle, and then make an incision all 

 round it with a sharp knife and remove the bark 

 carefully so as not to damage the bud. Also choose 10 

 the healthiest branch of the other tree, which you are 

 going to inoculate, and cut out a part of the 

 bark of the same dimensions as before and strip the 

 bark off the firm-wood. Then fit the scutcheon which 

 you have prepared to the part which you have 



' certamque edd, ex libro de Arboribm 26, 8 ; certaminis 

 SAac. 



J07 



