1 Jan., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 39 
When the root is smaller than the scion, a sloping cut is made into the 
scion as shown at a (see Fig. 1), taking care to use a sharp thin knife, and 
making a drawing and not a foreing cut, so as not to split the scion; and the 
root (see Fig. 2) is prepared as shown in a similar manner to the wedge 
graft used in the case of large trees, and presently described. The root as 
prepared is then inserted into the cut @ made in the scion as shown in Fig. 3, and 
is then tied firmly in place with raffia or thin calico—no waxing is necessary. 
Where the root 1s as large as or larger than the scion, a whip or splice graft is 
used, which is best described by reference to the illustrations: Fig. 4, the 
scion, showing the sloping cut and tongue at a; Fig. 5, the root, showing 
the sloping cut and tongue at a; Fig. 6, the completed graft, showing the use 
of the tongues and how they fit. 
In the illustrations the root and scion are shown to be of equai size, but if 
the root is larger than the scion then it is essential that the inner bark of one 
side of the root and of one side of the scion be brought in contact, taking no 
notice of the other side, as a union on one side is sufficient. Always tie the 
grafts firmly, so that there is no fear of shifting once they are placed in 
position and tied. Root-grafting as described can be done during the winter 
or early spring, the grafts when made being either kept in sand till the nursery 
is ready or planted out in nursery row direct. : : 
Tn the second place, when the scion is grafted on to the seedling or other 
root stock, the method employed is that of whip-grafting just described, the 
scion being tied firmly in place, butnot waxed, and thesoil being then drawn round 
the graft till only one bud of the scion is left above ground. If there is danger 
of the graft drying out, then waxed ties can be used. This method of grafting 
on to the root stock is used largely in nurseries, especially 
in the case of peaches and other fruits having a soft | 
pithy wood, and is done in spring just as the sap is | 
beginning to move in the stock, the scion, if possible, } 
being more backward in growth than the stock. 
WHIP OR SPLICE GRAFTING. 
This is probably the commonest and best method of 
erafting nursery stocks, as it is applicable to stocks vary- 
ing in thickness from that of an ordinary lead pencil to 
stocks of an inch, or even slightly more, in diameter. 
The tongue holds the graft in place, and when the cuts 
are properly made the graft fits well. When the stock f 
and scion are of equal size, the completed graft should 
appear as in Fig. 7, the scion and stock being cut in a 
similar manner to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5; but when 
the stock is larger than the scion, instead of making a 
sloping cut right through the stock, a sloping cut on one }{ 
side of it is sufficient; a tongue is made in this cut, and ¥\j/)jil 
the scion fitted to it, care being taken that the inner //i\/II 
barks of the scion and stock meet on one side (see Fig. 8). 
In preparing-the stock the top should be cut off with a 
slight slope, and the scion should always be placed on 
the higher side, so that the bark will grow over the wound 
and leave no dead wood, as would be the case were the 
scion put on the lower side of the slope. When the 
graft has been placed in position, it should be firmly 
tied with any suitable material or with waxed calico, 
and the whole of the cut, including the top of the stock, 
should be covered with hot grafting-wax, so as to 
exclude air and moisture. Whip-grafting of nursery 
stocks should be done at a height of about 6 inches 
from the ground, and the grafts or scions need not 
contain more than two or three buds. 
