GBAPTING AttD BUDDING. 



15 



parts of which. (A. and B) are joined by a screw (C). The 

 metro -greffe answers the purpose of a pair of compasses for 

 measuring the back at the bevel of the graft, and then tracing 

 on the stock a corresponding width for the groove which is to 

 receive it. 



All these tools are not indispensable in the practice oi 

 grafting ; but they have each a special nse. The last three are 

 intended to facilitate nice and complicated operations in 

 grafting. 



KEEPING THE TOOLS. 



They should always be in a serviceable and clean condition. 

 In the course of repeated operations, especially when the sap is 

 flowing freely, it thickens and accumulates on the blade of the 

 tool. It should be constantly removed by the application of water 

 or moist earth. The dirt interferes with the proper manage- 

 ment of the tool, and injiu'es the internal layers of the bark 

 and wood which come into contact with the blade. Frequent 

 sharpening of the cutting implements should not be 

 neglected, as wounds heal much more readily when the cuts 

 are clean. When the tool gets blunt, it should be ground 

 down on a grindstone, and afterwards rubbed on a finer stone, 

 to remove the wire-edge. In long-continued operations the 

 tool should be rubbed on the fine stone frequently during the 

 day. The Turkey, or any other fine-grained stone, is the best- 

 for sharpening pruning-knives. The slate-stone is suitable for 

 the grafting -knife and the secateur. . There is also the fine 

 stone used for razors and penknives ; on this, with a drop or 

 two of oil, fine blades for delicate operations are sharpened. 

 In nurseries, after passing the tools over the stone, they are 

 stropped on the leather of the boot or shoe, or on the palm o^ 

 the hand. The mode of sharpening depends on the skill or 

 the practice of the operator. The object should be to sharpen 

 the cutting parts without weakening them; otherwise, in 



