PROPAGATION OF PLANTS. 145 
x % 7 : 
# (GRAFTING. 
“ . * » 
573. This operation consists in uniting a part of one plant 
another The branch or bud which is transferred is 
ealled the graft or scion ; and the tree on which it is placed 
is.called the stock. ; e betes 
574, The union of the graft and the stock is effected by 
the cambium, or proper juice in the bark; and hence it is 
necessary that the graft have a piece of fresh bark, and that 
this be placed in the bark of the stock, so that the vessels in 
each may unite. The cambium exudes from the edges of 
each, becomes organized, and thus brings about a complete 
union. Grafting succeeds only when the stock and graft be- 
long to the same natural family. 
_ 575. By grafting we are enabled to accelerate considerably — 
the fructification of various trees, improve much the quality 
of the fruit, and preserve and multiply particular varieties of 
rees which may be deemed valuable. An Apple-tree does 
hot in general produce fruit till it is ten years of age; but if 
4 scion of a seedling tree be grafted on one that has already 
borne fruit, it will bear fruit in the third or fourth year. 
“ Suppose two acorns of a new species of oak received from 
a distant country ; sow both, and after they have grown one 
two years, cut one of them over, and graft the part cut off 
on a commion oak of five or six years’ growth: the conse- 
quence will be, that the whole nourishment of this young tree 
of five years’ growth being directed towards nourishing the __ 
on of one or two years, it will grow much faster, and con- — 
sequently arrive at perfection much sooner than its fellow, or 
's own root left in the ground. A French author found the 
advantage of this practice, in the case of‘a new species of ash, 
be as five to one in point of height.”—Loudon’s Encyclo- 
fia of Gardening. The quality of the fruit is improve 
the non-development of many of the seeds of grafted plants 
