64 GRAFTING 



Grafting. Grafting consists in placing together two cut sur- 

 faces of one or of different plants in such a way as to cause them 

 to unite and grow together. The plant on which the graft is inserted 

 is called the stock, and the part inserted the scion. The action of 

 the one on the other is often very marked, sometimes producing 

 what are called "graft-hybrids." Some fruit-trees may grow freely 

 on a certain stock but scarcely bear any fruit, whilst on another 

 stock they produce abundant crops, though they may not grow so 

 vigorously. The possibilities of grafting are of the greatest impor- 

 tance in horticulture, more specially in fruit-growing industries, and 

 through its medium trees, shrubs, etc., may be propagated when 

 other reproductive means fail. Among its other advantages are : 

 The good qualities of the scion are retained ; seedling fruit-trees 

 are brought more quickly into bearing by being grafted on fruit- 

 bearing stocks ; and in some cases the two sexes of dioecious plants 

 may be brought together on one stock in order to ensure their 

 reproduction by self-fertilization. In Ceylon, however, as in most 

 tropical countries, grafting is seldom practised. 



Certain conditions are essential for the success of the operation. 

 The scion and stock should have a natural affinity to each other, 

 either as varieties, species, or genera of the same natural order ; 

 also the natural vigour of the stock and scion should be somewhat 

 similar. The operation should be carried out in the shade in moist, 

 growing weather, and the parts protected from the sun until the 

 union is complete. In all cases it is necessary to exclude the air from 

 the graft by covering it with grafting- wax or clay, bound round with 

 matting or fibre. A fundamental principle is the necessity of form- 

 ing a direct communication between the layers of inner bark 

 (cawbiuin) in both the scion and stock ; otherwise no union takes 

 place, as the pithy or woody parts do not unite. There are various 

 methods of grafting that may be practised, according to the size 

 and variety of the subject which it is intended to propagate, and 

 each method may be varied to some extent as may be desired. 

 The following are the modes most generally employed : 



Whip or tongue grafting. This is one of the best methods 

 and is extensively practised in cool countries. The stock is cut in 

 a sloping direction, just above a node. The scion is then similarly 

 cut through obliquely ; a thin tongue is cut in this in an upward 

 direction, and a corresponding cut made in the stock ; the scion is 

 fitted into the latter so that the inner barks of stock and scion come 



