343 SYLVA AMERICANA. 



characters when reproduced from seed, and which make finer 

 trees when grafted on free growing stocks of their own species. 

 The scions take more freely when not more than of one year's 

 growth, but those of much older growth will succeed. The most 

 perfect grafting is where the scion and the part of the stock to 

 which it is to be united are nearly of an equal size, for on the 

 perfect contact of the inner bark of the scion and stock depend 

 the perfect union of the two in the shortest space of time, and 

 consequent equal healing of the wound. The month of March 

 or April is the best season for forest-tree grafting. The modes 

 of grafting are numerous. French authors enumerate upwards 

 of forty ; for the purposes now under consideration, however, 

 that termed whip or tongue grafting is generally followed. The 

 scions should be selected from the more upright, free-growing 

 branches ; the middle portion of the shoot is the best; but where 

 there is a scarcity of grafts, the top and bottom may be used, 

 as these will succeed, though not likely to produce such fine 

 trees. From two to five buds should be left for the production 

 of a leading stem and branches. The stock should be cut in an 

 oblique direction (, Plate 105), and the scion in like manner at 



a corresponding angle (d) ; a slit should then 

 be made in the stock about the middle of the 

 wound, passing downwards (c), and a similar 

 slit upwards in the scion (b); the upper division 

 of the scion made by the slit, termed the tongue 

 or wedge, is then inserted into the cleft of the 

 stock, and the inner barks of the stock and scion 

 brought into perfect contact, at least on one 

 plate cv. side. This should be effected with as little 

 delay as possible. The parts are then to be bound with a riband 

 of bass, and particular care should be taken that, in this part of 

 the process, the junction of the two barks is not in the least 

 displaced. To protect the grafted parts from drought and 

 moisture, and from the action of the air, various means have 

 been adopted, but the most direct and useful is well-worked clay, 

 cleaned of gravel or small stones, and horse droppings, well 

 incorporated and mixed in the proportions of three parts of the 



