COMMON APPLE-TREE, 305 



well hoed and weeded by hand in the following summer. Immediately after the 

 fall of the leaf, in the ensuing autumn, the strongest and the most vigorous plants 

 may be drawn, and planted in rows eighteen inches apart, and the same distance 

 from each other, in a soil previously trenched, manured, and cultivated for gar- 

 den produce. The remaining plants should be similarly managed in the follow- 

 ing year. During their second and third year's growth, the ground should be 

 kept perfectly free from weeds by repeated hoeings, and the plants would be 

 greatly benefitted by a light forking between the rows. No knife should be 

 allowed to touch them in this stage, unless it be to shorten an over-rampant shoot, 

 which may be making too strong a diversion from the stem, and not even then, if 

 it be more than a foot from the ground, particularly when it is intended to graft 

 the stem; for every twig and every leaf contributes to the growth of the root 

 and stem. When the stems of the plants have acquired half an inch or more in 

 diameter, at a foot from the ground, the head should be cut off, and the opera- 

 tion of grafting or inoculation performed. 



In order to insure the most desirable sorts by means of grafts, the trees from 

 which they are intended to be taken, should be carefully inspected and marked, 

 in the autumn previous, or at the time the fruit is in the greatest perfection. A 

 month or six weeks before the season of grafting arrives, cut your scions, and 

 keep them buried, at length, in dry earth or clay, out of the reach of moisture and 

 frost, until required for use, in order that the stocks may advance over them in 

 forwardness of vegetation. Select your scions from the outside branches of 

 healthy trees, just in their prime, or at full bearing, about midway in their heads, 

 and rather on their sunny sides, where the juices of the wood have been properly 

 digested by sun and air. If the trees from which they are to be taken be young 

 and vigorous, let the shoots consist of the last summer's growth ; but if the trees 

 be old or sickly, take them from the most healthful branches in the centre of their 

 tops, or what is still better, the young shoots which spring from their trunks 

 near the ground. Grafting may also be performed with the shoots of the current 

 year, as well as with those of several years' growth. The proper time for graft- 

 ing, is when the sap of the stocks is in brisk motion, which occurs in deciduous 

 trees a few weeks before they put forth their leaves ; but re-productive evergreens 

 may be grafted during summer as well as spring. After making choice of the 

 proper season, and all things are in readiness, let the operation of grafting be per- 

 formed as quickly as possible. For dwarf trees, head down the stocks to within 

 a few inches of the ground, or even below the surface. For standard trees, or 

 those designed to attain their full height, engraft on vigorous branches, situated 

 about midway in their summits, and well exposed to the sun and air. Ordina- 

 rily, the scions may be from one fourth of an inch to one inch in diameter: buu 

 if necessity requires, they may be much larger or smaller. The middle portion 

 of the scion is best; but where there is a scarcity, both the top and bottoni'parts 

 may be used. Take off a little of the lower end of the scion first, and then cut 

 it of such a length as to leave from two to five eyes or buds for the production of 

 new shoots, always taking care to cut off the top in a slanting direction. Twa 

 eyes will be sufficient for a standard tree, but four or five are better for dwarfs 

 which are intended to be trained. Let the stocks and scions, if possible, be of 

 the same thickness, in order that the inner barks of both will exactly unite and 

 facilitate the flow of the sap, the immediate object being to bring the bark and 

 young wood of both, into close and permanent contact, by which means the ves- 

 sels of the one, will be enabled to communicate with those of the other. This 

 operation is effected by several different methods, each of which have their advo- 

 ::ates, and are adopted in various countries, according to the preference or caprice 

 of the nurserymen. The modes which appear to bo most generally approved of. 

 iu grafting young apple stocks, are what are called "Whip," or " Splice-graft- 



39 



