GBAFTING AND BUDDING. 



73 



directing the blade of the knife from above downwards, 

 taking care not to penetrate to the pith. The scion is cut 

 thin on both sides, if it is to be inserted at the top of the 

 cleft, and cut in a wedge-shape if inserted hi the side of the 

 incision. Hence arise the following two sub-divisions : — 



Side- Grafting with a Vertical Cleft. 

 The camellia scion A (p. 72) is cut for the half of its length on 

 both sides (a), leaving on each side a strip of bark of equal 

 width, and tapering gradually to the point. The stock (B) is 

 cut, as at ~b, with one stroke of the grafting-knife, allowing the 

 blade to penetrate as far as the alburnum. The scion (A) is 

 introduced by its base {a) } and then bandaged, as shown at C. 

 Should the grafting be done in the open air, grafting- wax 

 should be applied on both sides of the cleft, so as to fill any 

 vacancies that may occur. "With the camellia, and other hard- 

 wooded shrubs, the stock is maintained entire at the time of 

 grafting ; but the aucuba, the tissues of which are less dense, 

 is cut down to within 4 or 8 inches above the graft at the time 

 of the operation. 



Side-Grafting ivith an Ohliqiie Cleft. 

 The scion E (p. 74) is the top of a branch of holly. The lower 

 part of it is represented at B with a sloping cut (C) on both sides 

 and with the back of the slant much longer on the outside. 

 An oblique incision (D) is made in the stock (A) by cutting 

 through the bark and alburnum in a slanting direction with 

 reference to the axis of the stock. The scion will thus be 

 inclined at an angle, and its leaves will not be embarrassed by 

 the stock. It may also be placed in an upright position by 

 giving an oblique direction to the sloping cut. It should be 

 bandaged with some elastic material. Some conifers are best 

 grafted with the oblique incision; the wound does not enlarge 

 so much as in the case of the vertical incision, and a slender 



