CHAPTER YTYTT 



GRAFTING 

 (Concluded) 



" "rT^HE part of a plant or tree above ground and 

 X the part under ground are mutually dependent, 

 the development of one implying a corresponding 

 development in the other. If there is a superabun- 

 dance of foliage, the roots will be unable to furnish it 

 sufficient nourishment ; on the other hand, if the roots 

 are unduly vigorous, there will be too much sap for 

 the foliage — an excess of nourishment which, there 

 being no use for it, will encumber the plant and be in- 

 jurious to it. Hence if the trunk to be grafted is 

 strong it must have several grafts, in order that the 

 number of buds to be nourished may be in right pro- 

 portion to the number of nourishing roots. 



"To this end the trunk is cut, not obliquely as for 

 a single graft, but horizontally. Then it is split all 

 the way across, following a line that passes through 

 the central pith, and two grafts are implanted in 

 the cleft, one at each end. It is evident that not 

 more than two can be placed in the same cleft, be- 

 cause the bark of the graft must of necessity come 

 in contact with the bark of the stock to insure inter- 

 communication and coalescence between the sap- 

 canals of the two. If the size of the stock requires 



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