Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/156

 .—Whip or tongue grafting (Fig. 18) is the mode most in use in the best fruit-tree nurseries, and is so called from the manner of cutting both the stock and scion in a sloping direction, on one of their sides, so that when brought together they fit exactly, and thus may be tied together. In former times this species of grafting was performed without a slit or tongue, and in that case the former term was more applicable. Subsequently the slit or tongue has been added, which has given rise to the latter term. “The scion (or shoot, a) and stock (or tree, b) being cut off obliquely, at corresponding angles as near as the operator can judge, make a slit nearly in the centre of the sloping face of the stock downwards, and a corresponding tongue in the scion upwards—this is called tongueing; the tongue, or wedge-like process, forming the upper part of the sloping face of the scion, is then inserted downwards in the cleft of the stock, the inner barks of both being brought closely to unite on one side, so as not to be displaced by tying, which ought to be done immediately with strong cotton twist, tape, or any thready material, brought in a neat manner several times round the stalk. The next operation is to clay the whole over, an inch thick on every side, from about half an inch below the bottom of the graft to as much over the top of the stock, finishing the whole in a long, oval form, and closing it effectually in every part to exclude air and water, which is the sole object of claying. Grafting Clay is very simply made of any heavy loam procured from a depth of the soil that has not been subject to culture, combined with a fourth of droppings from the horse or cow stable, moistened and well beat together with a stick, till perfectly incorporated and tough, allowed to stand for a few days, and then softened for use. These materials are always at command; there are several kinds of grafting wax, but