Grafting by Approach, or Inarching, is the oldest system known; examples being frequently seen in trees growing naturally together. It was formerly practised with trees, to form arches, doorways, &c., for picturesque effect, but is now more generally in use for propagating plants that do not succeed well under other methods. The season for Grafting by Approach begins with the flow of sap in the spring, and ends with it in autumn. The operation is performed when the leaves are on the plants forming the stock and scion, and they are allowed to remain on both for some time. The scion intended for Inarching must either be a movable pot plant (as shown in Fig 145) that may be taken to any place desired, or one planted in close proximity to the stock. A similar portion of wood should be removed from both the parts intended for joining, and they must be carefully fitted together and secured with tying material and a bandage. Sometimes, a tongue is cut in the plant forming the scion, and made to fit into a corresponding notch in the stock at the point where the barks meet. In other methods of Inarching, the stock is cut off and the scion inserted on or near its point; and for restoring defective parts, the terminal point of the scion is cut with a thin edge, as for a splice-graft, and inserted where required. Grafting by Approach is much practised with Vines for obtaining fruiting wood of any particular kind in a shorter time than would be possible by ordinary propagation. Some varieties also succeed better when grafted on a stock which is more vigorous than their own. After the cut portions heal and become established, the work of detaching them from their own roots, and removing the branches from the upper extremity of the stock, must be very gradually performed, to avoid extreme checks.