THE GARDENER. 



43 



of the scion, and in breadth sc as to expose as much 

 of the wood of the stock as will equal that seen in the 

 slanting section of the scion. Both sections should 

 be smooth and plain, and as regards the alburnum, 

 they should be the exact counterparts of each other ; 

 or, if this cannot generally be the case, the coincidence 

 should be as exact as can be on one side at least. A 

 thin wedge-shaped tongue is made very near the up- 

 per part of the slope in the scion, and a corresponding 

 nick in the stock to receive it. The top part of the 

 scion is shortened to two or at most three buds, and 

 fitted to the stock, to which it is tied with a strip of 

 pliable matting ; and the parts so united are then co- 

 vered with gralting-clay, or some other composition, 

 which remains till the graft has pushed, or as long as 

 there is no danger of the matting, used as a ligature, 

 cutting or galling the parts when they begin to grow 

 ^and to have an enlarged circumference. After the 

 first loosening, it is often advisable to apply slightly 

 a fresh bandage immediately ; and in some cases a 

 little clay or composition may be put round, should 

 the union appear too tender to endure exposure to the 

 vicissitudes of the weather. 



Cleft -grafting is performed by splitting the stock 

 diametrically across the top, which should be cut hori- 

 zontally, and then nicely inserting in one side a scion 

 cut like a wedge. This mode is objectionable, be- 

 cause the deposition of young wood takes place for the 

 most part in a projection exterior to the circumference 

 of a circle having for its centre the axis of the stock ; 

 the top of the latter is consequently left long uncovered 

 and becomes unsound from the wood being split to 

 admit the graft. 



'"'Saddle-grafting is the reverse of the preceding, 

 inasmuch as the stock, instead of the scion, is formed 

 like a wedge ; and the end of the scion made to fit 

 over it, like a saddle. It is preferable to cleft-grafting, 



