The terminals of all branches are cut off at a point immediately above the uppermost stub graft. The greater the number of scions used, the less will be the interruption of fruiting. In each sector of the tree, scions should be placed and wounds covered, working from the top of the tree towards the base. This order eliminates the danger of accidentally displacing scions during the grafting operations. Scions bearing 6 to 8 buds can be used.
Longer scions allow for a greater leaf area per scion and encourage earlier fruiting.
There is also some tendency towards better crotch angles between the scion and laterals arising from it. Scions are cut with a short wedge at the lower end, one side slightly longer than the other. Beginning about one cm from the base of the lateral to be grafted, a diagonal cut is made towards the base and not more than halfway through the lateral. A relatively heavy knife with a straight or slightly concave blade is required for making this cut. The lateral is pulled downwards to open the cut for convenience in placing the scion, which is inserted with the longer side of the wedge underneath and with the cambium layers in line along one side of the cleft.