March.] THE NURSERY. 253 
This done, clay the whole over near an inch thick on every side, 
from an inch below the bottom of the graft to the same above the 
top of the stock, finishing the coat of clay in a longish oval form, 
closing it effectually in every part, and tapering it up to the cion to 
prevent the wind, sun, or rain reaching the grafted parts till the 
union is effected; observing to examine it now and then; and if any 
part falls off", or cracks appear, such must be immediately repaired 
with fresh clay. 
Expert nursery-gardeners generally perform whip-grafting with 
four cuts; two in heading and slitting the stock, and the same in 
sloping and turning the graft, inserting it immediately, being fol- 
lowed by one or two persons to tie and clay them. 
This sort of grafting may also be performed, if necessary, upon 
strong young shoots of any bearing tree, if intended to alter the 
kind of fruit, or have more than one sort on the same tree. 
By the middle or latter end of May, the grafts will be well united 
with the stocks, as will be evident by their shooting; the clay may 
then be taken off", but suff'er the bandages to remain on till the 
united parts seem to swell, and be too much confined thereby. 
Second, by Cleft- Grafting. 
This is called cleft-grafting because the stock being too large 
for whip-grafting, is cleft or slit down the middle for the reception 
of the cion, and is performed upon stocks from about one to two 
inches diameter, and may be practised with success where the 
rind of the stock is not too thick, whereby the inner bark of the 
cion will be prevented from closely joining that of the stock, 
which junction is absolutely necessary to form a complete union 
of the parts. 
First, with a strong knife cut off" the head of the stock; or if the 
stock is very large it may be headed with a small saw. 
This done, fix upon a smooth part just below where headed, and 
on the opposite side to that cut away part of the stock, about an 
inch and a half, in a sloping manner upwards, so as the crown of the 
stock may not be more than about half an inch broad, which slope 
and crown are to be cut smooth and neat. Then prepare your grafts 
or cions in the following manner: observe to cut them into proper 
lengths of about six inches, with several eyes or buds to each: 
then take your sharpest knife, and pare away the bark and some 
of the wood at the lower end of the graft in a sloping manner, 
about an inch and a half or near two inches in length on opposite 
sides, making it have a wedge-like shape; but let that edge, which 
is to be placed outwards in the stock, be left thicker than the 
other, and with the rind continued thereon. The graft being pre- 
pared, take your strong knife or chisel, and place it on the middle 
of the stock, not across, but contrary ways, to the sloped part, and 
with a small mallet, strike the knil'c or chisel into the stock, 
observing to cleave it no farther than what is necessary to admit the 
graft readily; then place the knife, or some small instrument, a 
little way into the cleft, at the sloped part of the stock, to keep it 
