542 Notices of Communications to the Society, of which 



denominates dovetail grafting. The scion is selected so as 

 to have two or three buds above where the knife is to be 

 inserted. To prepare it for the operation, a slip is cut off 

 the end of the scion, sloping towards the bottom, and as long 

 as it is decided to insert it into the stock. On each side of 

 the cut, as far as it extends, a part of the outer bark is taken 

 off, leaving the under part of the cut portion of the scion 

 broader than the upper part. The branch to be worked is 

 thus prepared, being first cut off smooth and straight two 

 parallel slits, distant from each other nearly the width of the 

 prepared scion, and the length of its cut part, are then made 

 in the bark of the branch, observing particularly to slope the 

 knife, so that the under edge of the cut next the wood, may 

 be wider than the outer edge. The piece of bark between 

 the slits must then be taken out, separating it at the bottom 

 by a horizontal cut. The scion will slide into the dove- 

 tail groove thus formed, and if the work is well perforated, 

 will fit neatly and tightly. Two or three longitudinal 

 slits should be made round the branch, to prevent the place 

 into which the scion is fitted, from opening as the bark dries. 

 A small quantity of the grafting clay should then be care- 

 fully applied, securing it on with a flannel or list bandage, 

 the ends of which may be fastened with small nails. The 

 top of the stock should be covered with clay, to secure it 

 from wet, sloping it well up to the grafts. The length of 

 the part of the scion to be inserted into the stock, should be 

 about an inch and a quarter, and when preparing this part, 

 there should be a bud left on the outside ; by this, the union 

 of the scion and stock is accelerated and rendered more com- 

 plete. When very large branches or trees are to be grafted, 

 three or four scions should be inserted, placing them at equal 



