236 Grafting the Peach. 
bark is taken when working in old bark than for use on seed- 
lings. When a branch is budded, it is sometimes broken at a 
distance beyond the bud and allowed to hang, the idea being to 
furnish the bud some but not too much sap. Some growers 
thus bud and break part of the branches, allowing others to 
remain unworked, to maintain the growing processes ot the tree. 
These branches and those in which buds have not taken, are cut 
off and grafted the following spring. The aimond is successfully 
grafted over with the peach, and this course has been followed 
with thousands of unproductive almonds. 
Grafting the Peach—GCrafting the peach by the ordinary 
top-grafting with a cleit graft seldom succeeds. A side graft 
with saw and knife is better. It is described by J. W. Mills, of 
the University Experiment Station, near Pomona, as follows:— 
Saw grafting is rapidly taking the place of cleft grafting, for it does 
away with all difficulties arising from splitting and there is no cavity left in 
the heart of the limb or tree. The process is to saw off the limb at the de- 
sired place as in cleft grafting, then saw across the corner and down the side 
at an angle of about 45 degrees and trim out with a sharp knife. Place the 
knife blade a little to one side of the saw cut, a little farther from the edge 
at the top than at the bottom, and by pressing on the knife the whole sides 
of the crevice will be trimmed smoothly at one stroke; this operation re- 
peated on the other side of the saw cut will make a neat notch in the end of 
asolid limb. By cutting a little deeper from the saw cut at the top than at 
the bottom, and if the amateur does not trim his scion at the right angle, he 
can insert it gently in the crevice or notch and see just where totrim. Ifhe 
is so slow that the fresh cut shows signs of discoloration, he can make a 
fresh surface by placing his knife parallel to the edges and shaving off a thin 
slice. He still retains the same angle, but the scion will set a little deeper, 
which is no objection. By cutting a thin layer off the top of the stump next 
to the notch will show exactly where the inside layer of bark is. The inside 
bark of the scion must be even with the inside layer of the bark of the 
stump or limb that is being grafted. If the scion is inclined slightly out or 
in at the top, it will make a correct union at some point and be sure to grow. 
If the inclination is very slight the union will extend over considerable 
length and will make a much better start than if the union is at only one 
point, owing to the enlarged surface through which the sap is transmitted. 
One of the most important points in grafting is to have good wax and go 
over the grafts a few days after they are put in and rewax them. 
DISEASES OF THE PEACH. 
Curl-Leaf.—The most prevalent trouble with the peach 
tree in California is the curl-leaf. It was noticed from the first 
planting of peach trees by Americans, nearly forty years ago. 
Only recently has it been conceded to be due to parasitic fungi, 
and its prevention by washes of fungicidal character demon- 
strated. The treatment will be described in the chapter on tree 
diseases. The facts of its occurrence may be stated as follows:— 
Curl-leaf is much more prevalent in some sections than 
others, and in one place than another in the same section, and 
some sections are practically [ree from it. Some varieties are 
