THE USE OF SHOOTS FOE PEOPAGATING 193 



Instead'of removing the piece of cortical tissue of the stock, 

 however, it may be left connected with the stem below, so that 

 the wound is really only an oblique slit in the stem. In this 

 slit the wedge-shaped end of the scion is fitted and bound up. 

 It is still better to make the slit in such a way as to have only 

 one cut margin. This is done by pressing the knife down into 

 the stem below the cortex, in such a way that its point does 

 not project through the cortex on the other side. Into this 

 tangential slit the pointed end of the scion is then inserted. 



In the case of thicker stocks and slender scions, it is 

 best to substitute crown grafting by some form of graft in 

 which the scion is inserted into the cambium zone of the stock 

 plant. 



How should grafts be bandaged? This question is often 

 put, and is answered in various ways. To form a true judg- 

 ment on this point, we must consider what is the object of 

 binding up the wound, and also what material it is we employ. 

 We have already stated that energetically growing grafts do 

 not in some cases unite, because the callus masses formed by 

 stock and scion respectively tend to keep them apart. The 

 ligature has the function of preventing this, and of pressing the 

 scion against the cambium of the stock. When the fusion 

 has taken place, and the plastic matter formed by the leaves of 

 the scion begins to take its normal downward course, then the 

 thickening of the whole axis begins. If the material employed 

 in binding up the branch is suflBciently elastic, then no stoppage 

 or retarding of the thickening will take place at the graft. But 

 if we make use of very closely spun wool or of bass, the ligature 

 will soon be seen to constrict the cortical tissues, and this should 

 be prevented. From this it follows that it is better to bind up 

 grafts with flat than with twisted bands, and that cut surfaces 

 which are eoncave to one another should not be laced up to 

 meet. Such concave surfaces, however, should not and do not 

 generally occur in the case of skilful operators. Novices will 

 do well to prevent the transpiration from such badly fitting 

 grafts by the use of a little wax. If the stock and scion are 

 full of sap, if the operation has been skilfully carried out, 

 and the ligature is firm but not constricting, the time involved 

 by coating the wound with wax may often be saved. 



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