GRAFTING 



97 



of tongue and whip grafting is often heard. Tongue grafting 

 is employed only upon small stocks, and in the majority of 

 cases a seedling root is the stock which is used for this kind 

 of grafting. The tongue or whip graft is 

 very important in the propagation of nur- 

 sery stock, because it is easily made, and 

 usually a good percentage of the grafts 

 grow. This graft is used almost univer- 

 sally in root grafting. When selecting 

 the root for the stock, all knots or shoulders 

 should be avoided, because they will inter- 

 fere with the work. 



To make the tongue or whip graft, select 

 stocks and cions which are of one size. 

 The same size for each part is not abso- 

 lutely necessary but very convenient. 

 Cut both the cion and the stock diago- 

 nally across. The diagonal cut should be 

 from one and one-half to two inches in 

 length. One-half inch from the end on 

 the diagonal cut make a slit about one- 

 half inch in length on both the stock 

 and the cion. Do not split either the 

 cion or the stock, because that will leave 

 a rough surface, and the two parts will 

 not fit together tightly. The stock and 

 the cion are now fastened together by 

 shoving the tongue of the cion into the 

 cleft of the stock. The two parts are held 

 together by tying them firmly with graft- 

 ing cord or with raffia. In nursery work 

 a method often employed is to firmly force 

 the two parts together without tying; and 

 pack them carefully in boxes. The grafts 

 should then be covered with sand. By 

 careful handling, the two parts will callus over and become 

 united and a strong union will be made before the time 

 arrives to plant the grafts. 



Root grafting is usually performed in the winter when 

 7 



Fig. 41. — A 

 piece-root whip 

 and tongue graft. 



