60 



sharp saw. This stock is prepared to receive the scion by 

 splitting it through the heart to a depth of 3 or 4 inches. This 

 split or cleft, as it is called, may be made with a grafting 

 chisel or a strong knife. The wedge on the grafting chisel or 

 a wooden wedge is inserted to open the cleft to receive the 

 scions (see Fig. 1, b). 



Fig. 1. — Cleft grafting: a, side view of scion; 6, the stock ready to receive tlie 

 scions; ti, tiie scions in position; d, cross sectioii through the wedge of the 

 scion, showing one edge, the inner one, thinner than the other. 



The scions are cut from shoots of the previous season's 

 growth taken from a tree of the desired variety. On the 

 lower end of a piece of scion wood cut a smooth wedge with a 

 taper about IJ inches long, having one side a trifle thinner 

 than the other (see Fig. 1, a and d) ; cut off the excess length, 

 leaving two or three buds on the finished scion. The wedge of 

 the scion is inserted into the cleft of the stock, the thinner edge 

 inward, being siu-e that the inner bark lines, i.e., the cambium 

 layers, are in contact. To insure this, the scion may be slanted 



