156 



the art or 



each case. We shall now take a general review of this 

 subject. 



Attention io Bandages. 

 Care must be taken to watch the bandage, that it 

 may not become too tight on the graft. Should it 

 have penetrated the bark, in consequence of the increased 

 growth of the stock, the graft must be relieved by cutting the 

 bandage. One stroke of the grafting-knife across the bandage, 

 on the side opposite the bud-graft or the joinings of the bark, 

 will suffice. The bandage, thus severed, is allowed to fall of 

 itself. In a case of incipient strangulation, the bandage need 

 not be cut ; if the graft has been only recently made, and the 

 lateness of the season prevents an immediate extension of the 

 evil, the cutting of the bandage may be deferred, or it may be 

 cut partially ; or, if entirely removed, a fresh one should be 

 put in its place. In a case of decided strangulation, the 

 bandage should be cut at the top and bottom, then unrolled, 

 carefully drawing it out of the swellings which it has caused in 

 the bark. The smallest portion of it left behind in these parts 

 may prove hurtful to the graft. Should over-tightness occur 

 during the growth of the graft, care should be taken to fasten 

 the young branches to stakes, in order to avoid ruptures. I 

 the union of the graft is not perfect, or if it is likely to be 

 injured by the weather, a new bandage should be applied, or 

 the old one replaced on the graft. It is better to remove a 

 bandage in autumn than in winter, in order that the bark and 

 points of union may be gradually hardened off. The bandage 

 should be retained until spring on grafts that are likely to 

 suffer from the cold, and it should also be retained for a 

 longer period on grafts made with fruit-buds. For the first 

 few days after grafting, we are likely to find that many 

 bandages have become loose. These must be secured afresh ; 



