40 



ORANGE CULTURE. 



And, in point of fact, it would seem useless as well as hurtful to 

 inflict a larger wound than necessary upon the stock, thus giving 

 it more work to do to heal over its cuts, just at the time when its 

 full energies are needed, in the proper sustenance of its foster 

 child ; and therefore we would advise the adoption of the French 

 method, and the catting away of the major part of the stock after 

 the graft has taken firm hold, not before. 

 " Cleft " grafting is next in order. 



Here the head of the branch or stock is cut off* obliquely 

 and then the sloped part cut horizontally to its middle ; then, with 

 a sharp knife or chisel, which latter is best, a cleft two inches 

 deep is made in the crown, downward, at right angles to the 

 sloped part. Be very careful here not to injure the pith, or yours 

 is "love's labor lost." 



Leave the knife or chisel placed horizontally in the base of the 

 cleft to keep it open, and take up your scion ; now with a sharp 

 knife shape its extremity for an inch and a half in the shape of 

 a wedge, leaving it about an eight of an inch thicker on the outer 

 or bark side, and bringing it to a finer edge on the inner side ; 

 and now you are all ready to slip your scion down into the cleft 

 as deep as the wedge you have cut — one and a half inches — this 

 done, with the thicker or bark edge placed very carefully even 

 with the inner bark of the stock, draw out your knife from the 

 cleft below it, and you will be surprised to see how closely and 

 firmly the scion is held. Two or three scions may be inserted in 

 this way into the same stock, in separate clefts, the whole being 

 tightly wrapped and closed up. 



" Crown " grafting is employed chiefly on thick stocks, long 

 branches shortened, or headed down trees, and as many as a doz- 

 en scions may be used if desired. 



First, you saw off" the head of stock or branch as level as 

 may be, and pare the surface smooth ; then cut one side of your 

 scions flat and sloping, one and a half inches long, making a lit- 

 tle horizontal cut or shoulder at the top, to rest on the crown of 

 the stock. 



Your scions ready, slip a thin blade or the ivory handle of a 

 budding knife about two inches downward, between the bark and 



