THE PROPAeATION OF PETJIT TEEB8. 



Prom tMs it mil he seen ttat 



CiiBFT-GEAFTiNG is to be adopted when, a large tree is to be 

 grafted over. This is done by cutting off the branch horizontally 

 with a fine saw, and then carefully paring the stump quite smooth 

 with a sharp knife. The reason for using the knife is, that a smooth 

 cut will heal over more readily than the rough cut of even the finest 

 saw. The stump is then spHt or cleft about two inches deep with 

 a splitting knife and hammer. Now the lower end of the scion is 

 cut into the form of a wedge with a very sharp, thin-bladed knife, 

 taking care to make one side of the wedge a little thinner than 

 the other, and the wedge-cut an inch or inch and a half in length. 

 Cut off the top of the scion just above a 

 bud, leaving it usually three buds in length. 

 Open the cleft made in the stock by driving 

 a wedge into the split at the heart of the 

 stump ; this will prevent bruising the bark, 

 and leave free room for the insertion of the 

 scion. The scion should now be carefully 

 pushed down into the split, with the thicker 

 side of the wedge towards the outside, and 

 having the inneT bark of the scion fitting as 

 exactly as possible with the inner bark of the 

 cleft. The circulation of the sap is carried on 

 Pig. 1. Fig. 2. thiough the inner bark, and as the bark of 

 the large tree or stock is usually much thicker than the bark of 

 the scion, if the outer surfaces of the bark are made to fit, it wiU 

 often be impossible for the ascending sap of the tree to flow into 

 the scion. It is only when the ascending sap of the stock flows 

 into, and sustains the life of the scion, that it wiU be able to put 

 forth leaves, and elaborate that sap, and send down the woody 

 fibre which shall firmly unite the scion with the stock, and estab- 

 lish permanently a vital connection between the graft and tha 

 tree. "When the stump is large, two scions should be inserted, 

 each being made to fit exactly at the inner back. This will ma- 

 terially aid in healing over the wound, if both should grow, while 



