THE PEOPAGATION OF FEUIT TREES. 



dible, choose a mild, cloudy day, with tut little ■wind, for the 

 ■wind and sun dry the ftesh-cut ■wood of hoth stock and scion 

 rapidly,! ■which is to he avoided ■whenever practicable, and always 

 as much as possible, by covering the ■wounds with grafting wax 

 the more promptly in drying weather. 



The tree to be grafted should be in a healthy and vigorous 

 state ; if not in such a condition the scion is less Kkely to live, 

 and if it lives ■wiU make but a feeble growth. Such a tree should 

 be prepared for grafting by thinning out the branches, and top 

 dressing the roots with a liberal supply of manure ; then, after it 

 has exhibited signs of returning vigor in improved appearance of 

 foliage and stronger shoots, it can be grafted ■with much better 

 prospect of success. 



Whip-gkaftdstg is performed when the scion and stock are 

 aearly of the same size. This method is the one most commonly 

 practised by nurserymen in gro-wing trees for .market, 

 and ■wUl be used by the farmer or amateur only 

 when grafting the small branches of young trees. 

 To graft in this way, use a very sharp, thin-bladed 

 knife, and with it make a smooth, sloping cut 

 upwards on the stock and downwards on the scion, 

 then form a tongue on each by making a thin up- 

 ward cleft on the scion and do^wnward on the stock. 

 Now place these sloping cuts together and press the 

 tongue of the scion into the cleft of the stock and 

 the tongue of the stock into the cleft of the scion, 

 taking care that the inner bark of the scion, on one 

 side at least, exactly fits ■with the inner bark of the 

 stock. If the scion have been well chosen -with 

 reference to the size of the stock, the bark can be 

 made to fit on both sides, but though this is to be desired when- 

 ever practicable, it is not essential to success, for if the barks 

 correspond on one side, circulation ■will be established through 

 them between the stock and the scion, and the union between 

 them be cemented. After thus uniting the graft and stock, it is 



Fio. 3. 



