78 THE FLORIST AND 
operation is liable to injure both tbe stock and graft at their junction, if 
the incision acts at all on them. 
Another method is to employ post office or tenacious paper in strips, 
instead of cloth, and then to invest their wrappings with bass matting, in 
strips. These too require to be cut, for the reason above assigned. 
The low temperature usually occurring at the proper period for engraft- 
ing the cherry, will call into requisition the aid of artificial heat, in the 
form of a pan of live coals, or a kettle of hot water, by which the waxed 
cloth can be kept at a proper state of consistency. An attendant should 
be in waiting to take charge of them, and to apply the strips as soon as the 
operator has fitted the scion to the stock. 
Convenient ladders, stools or staging should be at hand to enable him to 
reach the tops of the trees. By this method large mazzard stocks can be 
converted into the best of varieties. The extremities of these limbs, of 
course can only be changed by this method, as it is never expedient to 
whip-graft a limb larger than one's finger. Three seasons are required to 
accomplish the change, without impairing the health of the stock. One- 
third of the top should be operated each year, till the purpose is efiected. 
If it be hurried into one or two seasons, a plethora will be induced, which 
will manifest its symptoms, in the form of efi"usions of gum, from the surface 
of the body, followed by canker, and often by death of extensive portions of 
the bark and alburnum. Partial relief to this disease seems, in some 
instances, to be afibrded by bold, deep, and extensive incisions through the 
bark, down to the wood. 
In case some rare or extra valuable scion should fall into my hands, I 
should, most likely insert it by saddle grafting, in preference to the above 
named method, for the reason, that it rarely fails to succeed in my hands. 
It however requires too much time and care to admit of extensive use. 
Instances not unfrequently occur, in which it is necessary to operate on 
limbs or leading shoots of stocks, of an inch or more in diameter. In such 
case the process of split or wedge grafting must be the resort. 
By means of a delicate tenant saw, cut ofi" the stock, and then pare away 
the rough surface with a shoe knife. The split should then be made of 
proper length by driving down the same knife, by aid of a tvooden mallet — 
a steel or iron hammer is liable to fracture the blade of the knife. Open 
the split by the assistance of a smooth steel wedge, and it will be seen that 
the thin bladed knife has rather cut the bark and wood than split them, and 
what is of essential importance has left them with smooth and uniform sur- 
faces, fitted to receive the elongated, wedge-form of the base of the scion. 
