86 Cleft Grafting. 
the winter, which has the effect of forcing out new shoots around 
the head of the tree, and in these the buds of the desired variety 
are set in the summer, just as is done in budding nursery stock, 
except that the budding should be done rather earlier because 
the sap does not run as late. When the shoots are budded, 
those being selected which are situated so as to give the best 
symmetry to the new head, the shoots not budded are broken a 
, foot or so from where they emerge from the old wood, and are 
allowed to hang until pruning-time. At the winter pruning the 
budded branches are topped off a little above the bud and when 
the new shoot starts it is often loosely tied to the stub of the old 
branch to prevent breaking out in the wind. When it gets 
strength, the stub is cut away smoothly to allow the wound to 
heal over. 
Another way is to insert the buds in the old bark at points 
where it is desirable to have the new branches start. This is 
sometimes done by lifting the bark, as in ordinary budding, and 
slipping the bud under, sometimes by what is called shield or 
plate budding, which consists in removing a piece of the old 
bark entirely and putting in its place a piece of bark of the 
desired variety, having upon it a dormant bud. With plate 
budding it is necessary to be careful to have the inserted bark 
just the size of the bared spot, and to wrap it more closely than 
when the bud is slipped under the bark of the stock. In all 
cases in budding old trees, care must be taken to get fully- 
matured buds, and it is well to take them from large shoots, 
which have a thicker and firmer bark than may be used in bud- 
ding nursery stock. It is also desirable to be very sure that the’ 
buds are taken not only from a tree of the desired variety, but 
from a healthy, vigorous tree of that variety. 
In selecting buds, also, one must be sure that he gets leaf 
buds, and not fruit buds only. In taking buds from some kinds 
of bearing trees, of course, he may sometimes, to 
get well-ripened buds, be obliged to take both 
fruit and leaf buds together. This will work well 
if care is taken not to rub off the leaf bud. It is 
rather easier, however, to work with buds from 
young trees not yet in bearing if one can be sure 
that these trees are of the desired variety. 
Grafting Old Trces—Old trees are also re- 
newed by grafting. This is most generally done 
by the old process of “top gratting,” as practised 
at the East. The main stem or the larger branches 
Cleft Gratin are cut square off, and the scions, usually two, 
but four or more if in the trunk, are shaped and 
set into clefts in the stock as shown in the engraving. It is 
