322 METHOD OF PROPAGATING FRUIT TftEfcS. 



will only fall in drops; by this the rop.e is constantly kepi 

 moist, a circumstance necessary to the easy admission of 

 the young roots, and to the supply of nourishment to the 

 branch from this new channel. 



During three succeeding weeks, nothing farther is re- 

 quired, except supplying the vessels with water. At the 

 expiration of that period one third of the remaining bark is 

 cut, and the former incision is carried considerably deeper 

 into the wood, as by this time it is expected that some roots 

 have struck into the rope, and are giving their assistance in 

 support of the branch. 



After a similar period the same operation is repeated, and 

 in about two months from the commencement of the pro- 

 cess, the roots may generally be seen intersecting each 

 other on the surface of the ball, which is a sign, that they 

 are sufficiently advanced to admit of the separation of the 

 branch from the tree. This is best done by sawing it off at 

 the incision, care being taken that the rope, which by this 

 time is nearly rotten, is not shaken off by the motion. 

 The branch is then planted as a young tree. 

 In Europe a It appears probable, that, to succeed with this operation 



longer time re- j n Europe, a longer period would be necessary, vegetation 

 being much slower in Europe than in India, the chief field 

 of my experiments. I am, however, of opinion, from 

 some trials which I have lately made on cherry trees, that 

 an additional month would be adequate to make up for the 

 deficiency of climate. 

 Advantages of The advantages to be derived from this method are, that 

 this mode. a f lir ther growth of three or four years is sufficient, when 

 the branches are of any considerable size, to bring them io 

 their full bearing state; whereas, even in India, eight or ten 

 years are necessary with most kinds of fruit trees, if raised 

 from the seed. 



When at Prince of Wales's Island, I had an opportunity 

 of seeing this proved by experiment. Some orange trees 

 had been raised by a gentleman, from seeds sown in 1786, 

 which had not borne fruit in 1795, while branches taken 

 off by the Chinese mode in 1791, had produced two plen- 

 tiful crops. 



Whether 



