Crown or Rind-grafting has advantages over Cleft-grafting, it being practicable to work stocks of considerable age and size without cleaving, and rendering the wood unsound. It is practised in spring, when the bark easily separates; and with this method it has been recommended that the stocks should be cut down a month beforehand, the cuts being again made fresh at Grafting time. The scion should be about 6in. long, with two or three eyes attached to the upper part. The lower half is cut in a sloping direction, the same as the splice-graft, and the notch or shoulder formed in cutting it is made to fit on the top of the stock. It is then inserted between the bark and wood, which readily separate, if in proper condition. One or more scions may be inserted, according to the size of the stem intended for their reception and 143). The cut parts should be afterwards covered with a bandage, not made too tight, and clay or grafting wax. In what is known as Improved Crown-grafting, the top of the stock is cut obliquely, and the bark only raised on one side of the longitudinal cut made for the reception of the scion; the motive being to increase the points of contact between the two portions of bark, and accelerate their cohesion.