Propagation by Grafting. 229 



equidistant as possible (Fig. 116), are selected for 

 grafting, and it is desirable to graft these rather near 

 to the top of the trunli. 



Branches exceeding two inches 

 in diameter should not, as a rule, 

 be grafted. About half of the 

 top of the tree should be cut 

 away just before the grafting 

 leaving some branches to utilize 

 a part of the sap. The more or 

 less horizontal branches should 

 generally be selected for graft- 

 ing and in these, the cleft^ should 

 be made horizontally, to give the 

 two cions inserted an equal op- 

 portunity for growth. If both of the cions in a branch 

 grow, the weaker one should be pruned off later. ' As 



groAvth starts, shoots from the 

 stock must be rubbed off 

 (390). 



The spring following the 

 top-grafting, all or a part of 

 the branches left on the stock 

 at grafting should be pruned 

 off to encourage growth of the 

 grafts. If the tree is large 

 and of a vigorous variety, it 

 is wise to leave a part of these 

 branches until the second spring. . 



393. Side-Grafting is chiefly practiced with plants 

 in leaf, under glass. The cion is joined at the side of 



Pig. 116. Branches of 

 tree to be top-grafted, as 

 seen from above, showing 

 where to insert the cions 

 to make a well-formed 

 head, i. e., at the dotted 

 lines. 



Fig. 117. Cleft-graft in 

 trunk of old grape vine. The 

 cions are usually inserted be- 

 low the surface of the 

 ground in grafting the grape, 

 and no wax is used. (After 

 Bailey.) 



