Grafting over orange trees from one variety to another is carried 

 out on much the same lines as in grafting deciduous trees. Tlie 

 practice is almost in disuse in South Africa, but it is mentioned here 

 because some growers may wish to test the method, and others have an 

 idea that a graft is always better than a bud. 



The two methods likely to prove of any profitable use are those 

 known as Cleft and Bark grafting, and are shown in Figures 6, 7, 

 and 8. 



Cleft grafting may be done at almost any time of the year, but 

 the best months as a rule are June and July, the latter for preference 

 m those districts where the first after-winter growths take place at the 

 end of the month. 



Fig. 7. — Cleft grafting ; a, showing the clelt ; 

 i, grafts inserted. 



The operation consists in beheading the tree and the selection of 

 those branches which lend themselves best to the purpose. The 

 branches are cut off much the same length as is mentioned for budding 

 purposes and then are ready for grafting. One may be left for shade 

 purposes, to be removed later, or that also may be worked over at 

 some future date when the scions inserted have grown out to a nice 

 bushy head. The leaving over one branch is also supposed to have a 

 beneficial efi^ect, in that a constant flow of sap is maintained by that 

 means, and so any injurious effect caused by a superfluity of sap is 

 avoided. The writer has always found that where plenty of scions 

 are inserted it is not necessary to insist on the retention of a branch 

 for the purpose named. 



Splitting the stock is done by means of a suitable knife or other 

 instrument; whatever is used must be strong and sharp. The split 

 should not be laade through the centre of the stock in any case, and 

 when more than two scions are inserted the cuts should be made 

 parallel one to the other. Judgment is needed so that the split is 

 made neither too shallow nor too deep ; if the former is the case the 

 wood of the stock will press so tightly against the scion that circula- 

 tion of sap is impossible, and, if the latter, the pressure will be 

 insufiicient and there will be no proper contact between stock and 

 scion. 



