72 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, May 1, I860. 
practised by our continental neighbours,- but they offer no 
advantages., 
1. Whip-grafting, called also splice and tongue-grafting, is 
the most common mode, and is that almost universally adopted 
in our nurseries; and, indeed, when the stock 
and scion are about equal in size, it is, perhaps, the 
handiest plan of all. The head of the stock is 
pruned off at the desired height, and then a slip of 
bark and wood removed at the upper portion of 
the stock, with a very clean cut, to lit exactly with 
a corresponding cut which must be made in the 
scion. A very small amount of wood must be cut, 
away, and the surface made quite smooth; care 
being taken that no dirt be upon tho cuts in this, 
and, indeed, in all the other modes. The scion must 
now be prepared; this should have at least three or 
four buds, one of which should, where possible, be 
at the lower end, to assist in uniting it to the stock. 
A sloping cut must now be made in the scion ; this 
cut must correspond with that on the stock, and a 
slit be made to fit in a cleft made in the stock when 
heading it. This slit serves to maintain the scion 
steadily in its place until properly fastened, and is 
more a matter of convenience that anything else. Care must be 
taken that the sciou fits bark to lark, on one side at least. 
Where the stock and scion disagree in point of size, of course 
only one side can touch, and great care should be taken in this | 
part of the operation; and, in the case of a young scion on an 
old tree, some allowance must be made for the ruggedness of I 
the bark. 
The scion being thus adjusted, the whole is bound close, but 
not too tightly, with a shred of bast mat, care being taken that 
the inner barks coincide. The clay is now applied, in order to 
keep the parts moist, and some practitioners pile soil over the 
grafted part, when near enough the ground. In all the modes of 
grafting it may here be observed, that the chief ground of success 
ties in nicely fitting together some corresponding portions of the 
inner lark of the scion and stock. 
2. Crown, called also Cleft, or Wedge-grafting. — This is j 
applied to various plants as well as fruits, as, for instance, the : 
Rose, Cactuses, &c. Vines, also, are frequently grafted by this 
mode. As in whip-grafting, it accelerates the union if the bottom j 
of the scion has a bud or two. In the case of the Vine it is 
considered necessary to let the stock grow a little before grafting ; 
care must be taken, however, to keep some growing portions on : 
the stock, above the graft, or severe bleeding would 
ensue. As the name indicates, a cleft, or division, 
is made in the stock to receive the scion, which is 
out like a wedge; again taking care, in case of in¬ 
equality of size, to make one side fit lark to bark. 
When tho scion and stock are unequal in size, both 
sides of the scion may be brought to fit by cutting 
the cleft nearer to one side of the crown than the 
other. The wound is bound over, as in the other 
processes, with bast, and covered over with clay, or 
grafting-wax. The Camellia succeeds well when 
grafted this way, even a single bud will make a plant, 
provided the stocks are kept in a damp and shady atmosphere 
for a few w r eeks after grafting. The stock here, also, should be 
slightly in advance—that is, should be forwarder in growing 
than tho graft or scion. The best time is just as the sap is 
rising. 
3. Cleft-grafting, as represented in this sketch, is 
only a kind of crown-grafting, and is practised on 
stocks one or two inches in diameter, and, therefore, 
too large for whip-grafting. Cut or saw off tho head 
of the stock in a sloping form ; with a knife or chisel 
cleave the stock at the top, making the cleft about 
two inches deep ; keep it open by leaving in the chisel; 
cut the lower end of the scion into the form of a 
wedge, one inch and a half long, and the side that is 
to be towards the middle of the stock sloped off to a 
fine edge; place tho bark of the thickest side of the 
wedge-end of the scion so as to correspond exactly 
with the bark of the stock ; take away the chisel, and 
then the sides of the stock will pinch and hold fast the scion. 
Two scions maybe inserted, one on each side of the cleft; but 
in this case the top of the stock must not be cut off sloping. 
Last and clay must be put on as in tho other modes of grafting, 
4. Saddle-grafting —The top of the stock i§ cut to a wedge 
n 
iy 
shape, and the sciou or graft cleft up the middle, and placed 
astride on the wedge of the stock ; hence the 
name. The binding and claying are performed 
as in the other modes, care being taken to 
make at least one of the sides meet, lark to 
bark. 
A modification of this mode is practised in 
some of our cider counties, where they do 
not hesitate to practise it in the middle of 
summer, when the young wood has become 
somewhat mature. The scion is chosen smaller 
than the stock, and is cleft about three inches 
at the lower end, so that one side is rather 
thicker than the other. The rind of the stock 
is then opened on one side, and the thick side 
of the scion introduced between the bark and 
wood; the thinner portion is carried astride 
the stock, and down the opposite side, a slight 
cutting having been made to receive it, on the 
principle of making corresponding parts meet. 
This, though tedious, is a very safe mode of 
grafting, inasmuch as it presents a greater expanse of alburnum 
for effecting the junction. 
5. Side-grafting.- —This, in general, is per¬ 
formed on trees on which the top is required 
to remain, and is well adapted for the in¬ 
sertion of new kinds of Pears, or other 
fruits on established trees, in order to increase 
the collection, or to hasten fruit bearing. It 
is also adapted to fill up naked portions of 
old shoots. It is, however, not so safe a 
mode as some of the others. Little descrip¬ 
tion is needed; the cut will sufficiently illus¬ 
trate it. 
6. Chink or Shoulder-grafting. —This is not 
much in use in this country, and, indeed, wo 
see little occasion for its j j ractice. When 
the stock and scion are equal in size, how¬ 
ever, it offers an opportunity of gaining the 
advantage of an extra amount of alburnous 
union. The cut will explain it. « 
7. Root-grafting. — An old practice, but 
with regard to deciduous fruit trees it offers 
no particular advantage over the ordinary n. 
whip-grafting, when performed near to \ 
the ground. It is, perhaps, better \ 
adapted for very large scions, for in \ 
many trees 3uch may be used when two 
or three inches in diameter. When 
strongly bound they may be soiled over- f 
head, merely leaving a hole for the bud 
of the scion to come through, which in 
this case will rise like a sucker. 
8. Peg-grafting. —This mode is now 
never practised in England. Peg-grafting 
never having been practised by ourselves, we shall 
only make this extract relative to it:—“ The scion 
must be of the exact size of the stock; bore a 
hole into the centre of the stock, one inch and a 
half deep ; cut the bottom of the scion to fit; the 
edges of the barks must be very smooth, and fit 
exactly.” 
For ordinary garden purposes, we think tho 
whip, the cleft, the saddle, and the crown, the 
most eligible modes by far. 
In all these a few axioms must bo kept steadily 
in view : of such are the following :— 
1st. The scions of deciduous trees should be 
taken from the parent tree some weeks before the grafting season, 
and “ heeled ” (the lower ends put into the soil) in some cool and 
shady place ; this causes the stock to be a little in advance of 
the graft, as to the rising of the sap, a condition admitted ou all 
hands to be essential. 
2nd. Let all the processes bo performed with a very clean 
and exceedingly sharp knife, taking care that nothing, such as 
dirt or chips, gets between the scion and the stock. 
3rd. Let the bandage be applied equally and firmly; not so 
tight, however, as to cut or bruise the bark. For this reason, 
broad strands of bast are exceedingly eligible. 
4th. In selecting grafts be careful in choosing the wood, avoid- 
