364 



PROPAGATING FRUIT PLANTS 



crotches and main branches, being unduly exposed, may suffer 

 from winter injury. 



It is not necessary to work over every branch of appreciable 

 size. Select those on which grafts, by proper pruning, will 

 develop a good top. On small trees, three or four grafted 

 branches, and, on larger trees, six to eight will usually suffice. 



Perform the Operation in the Spring Just as Growth Is 

 Starting, Life activities promoting union and healing begin as 

 the buds are opening. Plowever, the operation may be per- 

 formed a few weeks earlier, or if the cions are kept dormant, a 

 few weeks later. 



Kinds of Trees to Cleft Graft, Apple and pear trees may 

 be cleft grafted easily. Plum and cherry trees are a little more 

 difficult to graft as a rule. The bark of the sweet cherry tends 

 to run in rings around the tree and must be cut ahead of the 

 cleft. The wood of the peach is too soft for cleft grafting. If 

 necessary to top-work the peach, it may best be done by 

 budding some of the small shoots. Mature grape vines may 

 also be cleft grafted. 



Procedure and Factors: 



(a) Selecting equipment. 



(6) Selecting cions. 



(c) Making the cleft. 



(d) Preparing the cions. 



(e) Inserting the cions. 



(/) Modifications of procedure. 



(g) Subsequent treatment of cions. 



(h) Cleft grafting grape vines. 



(a) Selecting Equipment, A sharp knife with a straight 

 blade, a grafting chisel, a wood mallet for driving in the 

 chisel to make the wedge or cleft, a pruning saw with teeth 

 fine enough so that it will not tear the bark at the edges of the 

 cut, and wax are the items needed in addition to the cions. A 

 chisel with a curved handle to hang over the branches when not 



