42 PROPAGATION 



or baskets which contain the stocks on a stage or plat- 

 form, so as to bring the branches to be used as scions 

 and the stocks contiguous to each other. From the 

 preceding remarks it will be seen that a low-branched 

 "scion " tree is preferable, to facilitate both the grafting 

 operations and any subsequent attention required by 

 the grafted plants. As with budding, the object to 

 aim at in grafting is to bring the cambium of the scion 

 and that of the stock in conjunction. The scion should 

 therefore have a stem diameter similar to the stock. 

 Carefully slice away a strip of bark and wood about two 

 or three inches long from one side of the stock ; this 

 strip should not exceed a third of the thickness of the 

 stem. Then carefully slice a similar strip from the 

 growth selected as a scion, so that when the cut portions 

 of the stock and scion are brought together the cambium 

 tissues meet. Any leaves found on the section of the 

 stock or the scion which has been sliced may be removed ; 

 the two cut surfaces should then be bound carefully but 

 firmly together with waxed-tape. The roots of the 

 stocks must be kept constantly moist. During dry, 

 windy weather the soil in the pots will evaporate rapidly, 

 and it will be found necessary to water them at least 

 once a day. 



If there be any danger of the pots being blown down 

 by the wind they should be firmly fastened to the staging. 

 To prevent undue movement of the grafts it may also 

 be necessary to tie the branches supporting the scions to 

 stout stakes fixed firmly in the ground. 



Union of the cambium tissues is usually apparent in 

 five or six weeks. The scion should then be partially 

 severed from its parent stem ; this is best done by 

 cutting off a strip of bark about half way round the stem 

 of the scion immediately below its junction with the 

 stock. 



If on examining the scion a fortnight later it shows 

 satisfactory progress it may be completely severed from 

 the parent tree. The upper part of the stock should, 

 at the same time, be carefully cut back to the point 

 where it joins the scion. 



The grafted stock should now be placed in a shady 

 position and well protected from both wind and sun. 

 It sometimes happens that the leaves of the scion flag 



