ling roots, and make them go as far as 
possible. On the other hand, it will not 
do to leave too much of the part that 
grew above ground on the root or stock, 
as the buds would be very likely to grow, 
thus keeping the scion from forming a 
tree. In this case, the tree that was 
formed would be a seedling. In making 
the sloping cut upon the root or stock, 
care should be taken to see that it and 
also the tongue are as near like the slope 
and tongue on the scion as it is possible 
to make them. Particularly is it neces- 
sary that the slit for the tongue be 
started at exactly the same distance from 
the end on both scion and root. The root 
is now cut off about three inches long 
and the process repeated until the entire 
seedling root has been used. If the seed- 
lings made a good growth and the soil 
was porous enough to let them go down 
properly, each root will usually make 
about three pieces. Consult Figs. 2 and 3. 
Join the root and scion by placing the 
two sloping surfaces together and caus- 
ing the tongues to interlock. Just here 
the main thing to be observed is to watch 
one side and see that the bark line of 
the scion comes exactly into contact with 
the bark line of the root. This is highly 
important, for here is where the two are 
to grow together. The scion and root 
may not be of the same thickness, in fact 
Seldom are, but this makes no difference 
if the above instructions are followed. 
(See Fig. 2.) If the tongues of both 
scion and stock are of the same length 
and were started at about the same dis- 
tance from the end of each piece they 
will exactly fit. If one of the slits has 
been started too low down on the face 
of the sloping cut, this will be shown 
when the two pieces are fitted together. 
For example, suppose the tongue was 
started too low down on the stock, but 
at the right point on the scion. When 
the two are put together it will be found 
that the sloping part of the stock will 
overlap on the scion far beyond the cut 
surface where it is intended it should fit 
neatly. This is very bad, as a wound 
will result, and such a wound cannot heal. 
To grow together, the two cut surfaces 
must be in intimate contact so that their 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
cambium layers on at least one side wi 
touch. If a cut surface is in contagt 
with the outside of a bark surtace, as 
in the example cited above, it is easy 
to see that the parts cannot unite. An 
open wound under ground is as bad as 
a wounded place above ground, for both 
invite disease organisms. See right hanq 
side of Fig. 2. 
Fig. 2. Propagating Apples by Piece Root 
Giafting In the first on the left a represents 
the scion and b the root or stock. Note how 
tongue is cut in each. In the next picture 
c and d@ shows the scion and stock properly 
fitted together, and e illustrates how they are 
tied with No. 19 cotton knitting thread Not 
necessary to wax or even use waxed thread. 
The remainder of the picture—the three figures 
on the right, show what happens when the 
tongues on scion and stock are not made 
alike. In @ the tongue is about right, but in 
b it is started entirely too far from the end 
to match. When made this way and fitted 
together the pieces overlap and form a very 
bad union as shown in ec. 
After uniting the scion and stock it 
will be necessary to wrap the point of 
union with No. 18 or 20 cotton knitting 
thread. Holding the graft in the left 
hand with the root part forward, the 
thread is laid upon the wood near the 
end of the cut, wound two or three times 
around at this place, at the same time 
pressing the parts together tightly with 
thumb and finger. Next work the thread 
up to the other end of the cut by winding 
it two or three times around the graft 
during the distance, then two or three 
