PROPAGATION OF TREES. 221 
The most preferable season for performing the opera- 
tion is in spring, just as the buds begin to swell, and 
when the sap is in brisk motion, both for evergreens and 
deciduous trees. The selection of the scions should take 
place in the previous autumn, when the tree from which 
they are to be taken is in leaf, so as to insure the pos- 
session of the most vigorous shoots. These should be 
chosen from branches most exposed to the sun, and may 
consist of the last summer’s growth, or, which is still 
more preferable, might be selected from among any 
shoots which may have sprung from the lower portion 
of the tree-stem. They are usually cut in lengths of 
three or four inches, so as to leave from three to five 
buds for the production of new shoots, and may be from 
one fourth to one inch in diameter, though they may be 
larger or smaller according to requirements. In all cases 
they should be as nearly as possible on 
an equality of size with the stock or 
branch into which they are to be graft- 
ed, so as to admit of the bark of both 
being exactly united, and to facilitate 
the flow of sap which forms the ce- 
menting substance between them. 
The operation of splice-grafting is 
usually performed on seedlings, and 
when the scions are of about one half 
inch diameter, and consists of the stock 
being cut in an upward oblique direc- 
tion, and the scion in a similar manner, 
so as to have the connection of these 
members as exact as possible. This 
being completed, the scion (a), or graft, 
is to be so fitted as to bring both or 
one of its barked edges in exact junc- 
tion with the bark of the stock (0), 
where it is to be bound immovably 
with the most soft, tensive lashing at 
