PROPAGATION OF FRUIT TREES 273 



former for most of the free-growing varieties, and the latter for damsons, most 

 of the black plums, and gages. 



Cherries. — The Wild Cherry stock is used for all forms of trees, but the 

 Mahaleb can be used with advantage for the May Duke and Morello cherries. 



Peaches and Nectarines. — The best stocks are the Brompton and the 



Propagation by Grafting 



Tongue or Whip Grafting.— x. Stock with the top cut off to the distance from ground at which 

 the scion is to be affixed ; (a) point of inserting knife opposite a bud ; (v) point of bringing out knife 

 in making gently sloping cut about half an inch above the bud ; [w) bud. Y. Stock sliced ; (x) slip 

 made upwards to correspond with the slanting cut of the scion at least on one side. z. Stock tongued ; 

 {y) tongue, made by a slanting cut downwards and inclining inwards, a piece of wood being removed 

 by a vertical cut from the top, thus taking out a wedge-like piece of wood (not necessary in small stocks 

 and ordinary scions), and so forming a tongue pointing upwards. A. Scion or well-matured shoot of 

 previous year's growth of the desired variety ; (e) slanting cut from 2 to 3 inches long ; (a) lowest bud 

 removed ; (^) buds left for vigorous stock ; (i:) buds left for a strong stock ; {d) buds left for a weak 

 stock. B. Scion sliced ; {e) slanting cut made mwards at the upper edge of the cut about an eighth to 

 a quarter of an inch deep, and slanting exactly the same as the top of the stock on which it is to rest ; 

 remove the small portion of wood with an upward cut ; when the cut portion of the scion is placed 

 against the cut part of the stock they must fit exactly, at least on one side. C. Scion tongued ; tongue 

 made by a slanting cut upwards and exactly fitting the cleft of the stock, though rather less tiian 

 greater in width, but precisely the same in length. D. Scion attached; (^) tongue in cleft of stock; 

 («) bark of stock and scion exactly coinciding, at least on one side, thus bringing the inner barks 

 together. E. Scion and stock tied and clayed ; {i) material {matting or raffia) binding the scion and 

 stock firmly together ; ( fj section of claying material to make junction air-tight (some use grafting wax). 

 Subsequently keep the clay or wax effective, and loosen the ligature when the scion has made about 6 

 inches of growth, then place a stick close to the tree, tying the stock and scion to the stick so that no 

 wind can move it. Whip grafting is sometimes performed without a tongue, the scion being prepared 

 as shown at B, and the stock as shown at Y, and the two joined together as at D, but without the 

 tongue. Then bind securely together, as at e, and cover with clay or wax; this is termed "Splice 

 Grafting," and preferred by some as not weakening stock and scion so much as in tongue grafting. 



Cleft Grafting. — f. Scion ; (k) wedge-shaped cut 2 or 3 inches long, a little thinner on the inner 

 side opposite the bud, in order to insure close contact of the bark where the scion and stock join. 

 G. Stock, top of a trunk or branch, with scions inserted ; (/) cleft made by chisel and mallet right across 

 trunk or branch, the chisel or a wedge being placed in the centre of the cleft to keep it open while the 

 scions are inserted ; (m) scions properly placed, always on one side of the cleft so that the inner bark 

 is in contact with the inner bark of the stock the whole length of the scion ; this is important, as if set a 

 little too far out or a little too far in, failure must result. The wedge must be withdrawn carefully so 

 as not to displace the scions. H. Cleft grafting completed ; binding of soft tarred string and grafting 

 wax ; completely cover the cleft at the top and down the sides as low as the stock is split. The scions 

 for cleft grafting may be as thick as the finger, and of wood two years old or more. They must be 

 clean and healthy, and have two or three buds clear above the stock. Cleft grafting is suitable for 

 stocks over i inch in diameter, upon which whip grafting cannot conveniently be performed. The 

 main stem of a tree can be successfully operated upon, but it is better to make use of branches rather 

 than graft when the trunks of the trees are of large size, grafting them at about a foot or 15 inches from 

 the main stem. Three to five branches worked with two or three scions each, either by this or by 

 crown grafting, form good heads, and come into bearing in two or three years. 



Crown Grafting. — i. Scion, about 6 inches long, of well-matured wood of previous year's growth 

 with three plump wood buds at the upper end, lower part cut in a slanting direction 2 to 3 inches long, 

 the same as the whip graft ; (g) shoulder to fit top of stock. J. Scions fixed ; (r) slit down through 

 the bark in a smooth part, 2 inches long ; {s) scions inserted in the stock, a hard wood wedge being 

 used, shaped like the scion, but rather smaller ; raise the bark, and insert the wedge in the centre of 

 the cut at the top between the bark and wood and push it down about half an inch less than the cut 

 part of the scion ; into this opening the scion is pushed, keeping the cut part next the wood of the stock 

 and pushed down so as to rest by the shoulder on the top of the stock ; {() binding of matting or raffia. 

 K. Claying ; («) clay brought over crown of stock and extended downwards so as to cover the slit parts 

 of the bark. Crown or rind grafting is easily performed, but the scions are liable to displacement by 

 wind and other violence, hence the grafts must be secured to a stick fastened to the trunk or branch until 

 they have a strong hold. Usually the best time for grafting in the south of England is from the middle 

 of March to April ; in the north, the first fortnight of April. Young stocks, as a rule, are ready to 

 graft ten days to a fortnight before old trees. It is better to graft trees late than too early ; do not 

 graft until the sap is flowing freely in the stock. Stocks should be cut before the sap rises, or some 

 time in advance of the operation, and near the points where the grafts are to be inserted. 



