80 



AMEEICAN POMOLOGY. 



formed at a point above the ground. The stock is split 

 downward, after having been cut ofl at the point where 

 the grafting is to be done. The knife should be sharp, 

 and the bark should be cut through first, to avoid its being 

 torn, and so that the sides of the cleft shall be smooth. 

 A wedge is inserted to keep the cleft open for the inser- 

 tion of the scion, which is cut on each 

 side Uke a fine wedge; but the two 

 planes not being parallel, the bark will 

 be left on one side to the very point of 

 the wedge, whQe on the other it will be 

 removed a part of the way, making a 

 feather edge. A, fig. 9. The object of 

 this is to have the pressure of the cleft 

 greatest upon the outer side, where the 

 union is to be effected. It is well to have 

 a bud on the strip of bark left between 

 the two cuts used in forming the graft, 

 this should be near the top of the cleft. 

 One or two grafts may be inserted into 

 a cleft, or more clefts may be made, in 

 large stocks, or in re-grafting the large 

 limbs of an old tree, but usually one is 

 sufficient to leave growing ; and in the 

 young tree, only one should ever be allowed to remain. 

 When the scion is nicely set into the cleft, so that the in- 

 ner bark of the stock and graft sliall coincide, or rather 

 cross a very little, (see fig. 10,) the wedge, whether of 

 hard wood, or of iron, should be gently withdrawn, and 

 then the elasticity of the stock will hold the scion firmly 

 to its place ; this pressure siiould not be too severe. In 



Fig. 10.— CLEPT 

 GRAFTINa WITH 

 BOTH SCIONS IN- 

 CLINED nrWAKD. 



