SEEDLINGS AND SHOOTS 83 



to work the transformation is a bundle of Yel- 

 low Transparent scions, a pruning saw, a graft- 

 ing knife, and a mallet or heavy hammer. First, 

 a lusty limb about two inches in diameter is 

 sawed off squarely, then the grafting knife is set 

 upon the stub end and given a smart blow with 

 the hammer. A little rift or split is thus made 

 in the stub, and the knife easily pries open the 

 crack sufficiently to place a scion at each end of 

 the crack. The lower bud on each scion must 

 come just at the top of the stub, and care must 

 be taken to have the cambium of stock and scion 

 in close contact. That is, the scion must be set 

 so that it is in position to "knit" with the inner 

 green belt of the bark. When the knife is with- 

 drawn, "the pinch" of the stub holds the scions 

 fast. The wound and the tips of the scions 

 must be carefully covered with grafting wax to 

 keep out insects and tree diseases, and then the 

 process is complete — the transformation has be- 

 gun on this one limb. About one-third of a tree 

 may be treated the first season; the remaining 

 foliage will be sufficient to stock the tree that 

 year. Always the work should be done when 

 the sap is rising in early spring, as then the 

 work of "knitting" will be soonest accom- 

 plished. Next season the shoots which have 

 grown from the scions will furnish a supply of 



