99 



an inch or two of the top, may be covered without injury to it. 

 They should, however, not be kept too wet, as the bark of the 

 grafts is liable to decay ; and, again, they must not be allowed to 

 get dry, as the bark of the graft will shrivel, and adhesion is 

 avoided. During the time they are thus stored away the parts 

 united (scion and stock) knit or callus over, and shortly after 

 planting begin to grow. 



1. 2. 3. 



1. The root showing sloping cut at A, and the tongue at E. 



2. The scion showing sloping cut at A, and the tongue at B. 



3. The union of scion and stock ready for waxing. 



CLEFT GRAFTING. 



This method is mostly practised on stocks too large to be 

 whip grafted, although it is also operated on young trees success- 

 fully. The stock is first prepared by being cut squarely off, as 

 shown in Fig 2, at g : a sloping cut is then made in the stock at 

 ./, and the top shaved smoothly at g, so that the point of union 

 between the bark and the wood may be plainly seen. The blade of 

 the knife is then driven into the stock, as shown in Fig. 1, to split 

 it as represented. It is always best to prevent the stock from 

 splitting or cracking clear through. This is avoided by using the 

 knife properly. The point of the knife is driven in, as shown in 

 Fig. 1, a.t C, and the blade is driven in at B, and instead of forcing 

 the knife down further to produce the split, it is drawn upwards 

 and towards you, and a perfect cut without cracking through is 

 made, as shown in Fig. 2, at h. The scion (Fig. 2, A) is cut 

 precisely in the form of a wedge, with the part cut for insertion 

 about an inch or an inch and a-half long. It should always have 

 a bud -at the shoulder where it is to rest on the stock, and the 



