16 
PROPAGATION. 
Fig. 3. Tongue-grafting , progressive stages. 
Having cliosen your stock of the proper size, cut it off at tl e 
point where, a, it appears best to fix the graft. If the stock ,s 
quite small, it may be within three or four inches of the ground. 
Then, with a very sharp knife, make a smooth cut upwards, b, 
about two inches in length. Next make a slit from the top of 
this cut about one fourth of the way downwards, c, taking out a 
thin tongue of wood. Cut the scion four or five inches long, or so 
as to have three buds ; then shape the lower end with a single 
smooth sloping cut, e, about the same length as that on the stock, 
and make the tongue upward,/, to fit in the downward slit of the 
stock. Now apply the scion accurately to the stock, making the 
inner bark of the scion fit exactly the inner bark of the stock , at 
least on one side , g. YVithout changing their position, tie them 
together carefully with a piece of bass-matting or tape, h. And 
finally cover the wound with well prepared grafting-clay or wax, 
i. This ball of clay should more than cover the union, by an 
inch above and below, and should be about an inch thick. If 
grafting-wax is used, the covering need not be above half an 
inch thick. 
In a month’s time, if the graft has taken, it will be expanding 
its leaves and sending out shoots. It will then be necessary to 
rub or cut off all shoots between the ball and the ground, if it is 
a small stock, or all those which would rob it of a principal share 
of nourishment, if upon a large tree. If the scion or stock is 
very weak, it is usual to leave one or two other buds for a time, to 
assist in drawing up the sap. About the middle of July, after a 
tainy day you may remove the ball of clay, and, if the graft is 
