104 



"two or three on one crown, to make sure that at least one will grow, 

 are pushed between the bark and the wood, preferably in the creases 

 and concave portions of the trunk, when the bark can with less 

 xlanger of splitting, be pressed out. In this way the scion will be 



held firmly against the trunk without 

 the assistance of any ties. When 

 thus made under the ground, the 

 moist clay and cow dung moulded 

 round the graft will exclude the air 

 which would otherwise interfere 

 with the success of the operation. 

 When done above ground, small 

 strips of waxed cloth over the cavity, 

 formed between the bark and the 

 wood, are necessary. 



Some gardeners use no grafting wax, 

 but lay a few of the leaves of the plants 

 on the grafts, the whole being tied up 

 hermetically with a cap of strong 

 paper. The paper being a non-con- 

 ductor, the moisture of the leaves 

 Toeing brought out by the heat of the sun, keeps the grafts damp, 

 and causes them to grow freely. This cap, however, is liable to 

 harbour insects that eat the buds as soon as they open. 



GRAFTING THE FIG AND THE WALNUT. 



J^JLarge useless trees can be renewed with comparative ease by 

 means of grafting. Hitherto these trees, as well as those with a 

 large amount of pith, were considered bard to graft on account of 

 the difficulty of preventing the air getting into the pith, and also 

 drying up the sap channels left unprotected by a shrinking bark. 

 In grafting such trees, therefore, do not split through the central 

 pith, but better at one side of it. A few limbs are cut to within a 

 foot or so from the stem, whilst it is advisable to leave others to 

 afford shelter to the young grafts and to draw the sap. Cut V-shaped 

 pieces of bark 1 to 1J inches long, trim the scions taken from wood 

 of the size of a lead pencil, and cut the end bevel shape, so as to fit 

 the notches ; fit these scions into the notches referred to, wrap tightly 

 with raffia fibre or with waxed calico, and smear the wound all over 

 with liquid grafting wax, also wax top the scion to prevent drying out. 

 No cavity is thus left in the heart of the limb. The waxed calico 

 strips are removed after a few weeks. 



G-RAFTING THE OLIVE. 



The olive is most successfully grafted, says Lelong, during the 

 months of March and April,* but preference is given to those 

 grafted in March, by the following deft method : 



* August and September in Australia. 



