218 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



are cut off with a sloping cut about an inch and a half 

 long on each, so as to match precisely, if of the same size; 

 or, if not, at least on one side. A tongue is then made on 

 each by slitting the scion upward, and the stock down- 



other, thus holding the scion firmly in its place. Bind it 

 closely with the cloth covered with the composition. The 

 engravings (Figures 86 and 87) show the different steps of 

 the operation. It is the neatest, most expeditious, and 

 most successful mode of grafting, where the stocks are of 



the proper size. 

 S t o c k s , three- 

 fourths of an inch 

 in diameter, or 

 even an inch, may 

 be grafted in this 

 way, but for inch 

 stocks cleft graft- 

 ing is preferable. 

 Cleft Graft- 

 ing is the more 

 common mode. It 

 may be practiced 

 on large or small 

 stocks, but for the 

 latter whip grafting only should be employed. The top 

 of the stock is cut off carefully with a fine saw, and pared 

 smoothly with a sharp knife. The stock is then split with 

 the grafting tool, and held open with the chisel of the same 

 (Figure 88). A common knife will answer for splitting, 

 and the split may be kept open for insertion with a 

 wooden wedge or a large nail of which the point has 

 been ground down to a wedge shape. Sharpen the lower 

 part of the scion into a smooth wedge, one and a half 

 inches long, more or less, according to its size, and that of 



Fig. 88. 



Fig. 

 Splice Grafting, 



Fig. 90. 



