October i, i88r.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
3*9 
GRAFTING DECIDUOUS FRUIT TREES. 
The following arc woodcuts referred to in the 
article on this subject on pages 315 and 316 :— 
In continuation of this subject dealt with on pages 
315 and 316, we reproduce from the Australasian an 
article treating of three other systems, known re- 
apectively as cleft, notch, and crown or rind grafting : — 
Cleft-grafting, fig. 4, is not a neat method; it is, 
nevertheless, much used in New South Wales, in orange 
nurseries, and it is possibly the ouly method of work- 
ing vines that is ever resorted to. If the orange 
stock and scion do not differ in size more than those 
represented in fig. 2 hi our issue of 23rd ult., the 
latter generally grows over the top of the stock, so 
that eventually the two are united all round, and a 
smooth trunk, bearing very slight indications of the 
uion, results. In the case of vines the stock is usu- 
ally large, because grafting is rarely resorted to 
•merit for the purpose of exchanging one kind for 
another after a trial of several years. The method of 
performing cleft-grafting is as follows: — The stock is 
split at a by a chisel and mallet ; before the chisel 
is withdrawn) a wooden wedge rather larger than the 
scion is inserted to keep the split open until the 
scion is in its place. Tho wedge is then withdrawn, 
a tie is put around the stock, and grafting-clay over 
all, not omitting the top. In grafting large stocks 
two scions aro sometimes placed on the opposite sides 
I of the 'took. In preparing tho scions for insertion 
when two aro to he used, they must be cut of some- 
what different shape from single scions intended for 
I large stocks. If the operator will insert one shoot 
] representing a ecion and withdraw the wedge, he 
I will lee that the other edges of the cleft will nearly 
go together, leaving the openiug across tho top boiiio- 
] what tapering, as well as tho perpendicular cut. The 
single scion thon must bo cut wedge-shaped in both 
d:i ' moms — when two are to bo used in ono stock 
they will requiro to bo tapered only in one direction. 
There must bo no bruising of the bark either of the 
stock or soion. In order to avoid this, a very thin 
1 slice may he lakeu oil the bark n'ge of tho soion or 
off the edges of the cleft in the stock before the 
scion is inserted. In grafting vineb it is important 
that a bud be left nearly close down upon the stock, 
as represent! d in rig. 4. Figure 5 is another method 
of cleft-grafting with one scion. The slock is fre- 
quently cut sloping as at a, a small shoulder being 
still left at the summit when the cleft is made and 
the sciou inserted. This method is not much used 
in the colonies, nor indeed on the continent of Eu- 
rope, whence it was derived. Figure 6 represents a, 
substitute for cleft-grafting ; it is triangular notch- 
grafting — a neater mode, and inasmuch as no hollow 
is left in the stock, as in cleft-grafting, it is prefer- 
able. This plan is, however, not generally used. A 
skilful hand will get over a ^reat ma> y vines in a 
day by the process of cleft-grafting. Experience en- 
ables him to dispense with tying and claying. He 
merely cleaves the stock, inserts the scion, and hav- 
ing withdrawn the wedge, trusts to the embrace of 
the stock to keep the scion in place ; he then 1 artha 
up, or rather levels in the soil, for if a straight piece 
of stock can bo met with below ground, he heads 
tho vine down as low as he can ; and this .*.yi,tera 
of keeping the graft below tho surface has much to 
recommend it in a dry, warm climate. 
Crown or rind grafting, which is shown by li^. 7, 
is alnio«t universally employed in re-grafting Targe 
apple and pear trees. It is much to be preferred to 
cleft-grafting, inasmuch as tho wood of the stock is 
not rendered unionnd by cleaving. It is easily per- 
formed ; the lower end of the Rcion is out sloping, 
as in whip-grafting; tho head of th« stock ia cut over 
horizontally, and a b1 it a is nrndo juot through tho 
inner bark. A piece of wood, bone, or iv^ry in shape 
somewhat resembling the thinned end of tho scion, 
is introduced at tho top of the ulit between tho al- 
burnum uud inner bark, and pushed down, in order 
