MODES OF GRAFTING. 13 



branches of thrifty and hardy trees well matured. Scions 

 bearing fruit-buds should not be used, and a medium sized 

 scion is better than one half an inch in diameter, pithy, and 

 unripe. The implements used in grafting are very simple, — ■ 

 the grafting-knife with chisel attached, saw, and a sharp 

 knife to prepare the grafts with. 



There are various opinions expressed in regard to what is 

 the best composition to be used in grafting. Tins subject 

 was once extensively discussed before the Bradford Farmer's 

 Club. Some preferred a composition made from beeswax, 

 tallow, and rosin, equal parts. Others substituted linseed- 

 oil for tallow, with less beeswax, and more rosin than of 

 either. But the majority, from long experience, concluded 

 that there was nothing equal to a simple composition made 

 from fresh cow-manure and brick-clay : one-third manure to 

 two-thirds clay is about right to use. It will adhere firmly 

 to the wound until it is all healed, and retains moisture, 

 which is requisite during the process of healing. When it 

 falls off, it leaves the bark on the wound healthy, fresh, and 

 smooth : in fact, it is nature's own remedy, and we have 

 never known it to fail. On the other hand, a composition 

 made from oily substances must be injurious to the tree, as 

 it is foreign to its nature, and hence it cannot but interrupt, 

 in a great measure, free circulation, and impede progress in 

 healing. Aside from grafting, we believe that oil or grease 

 should not be applied in form to a tree ; and in grafting, if 

 the other agents used in the compound did not counteract 

 the action of the oil on the wound, the wound would never 

 heal. 



Of the several modes of grafting spoken of in our intro- 

 ductory remarks on grafting, we shall only recommend two 

 for practical use ; viz., skin and cleft grafting. Having 

 every thing in readiness, — composition, scions, implements, 

 strips of cloth, thread to tie with, &c, — skin-grafting is 

 performed after this fashion : saw off the stock horizontally 

 with a fine-tooth saw, clean and smooth, and cut the scion 

 on one side, about an inch and three-fourths long ; make a 

 shoulder at the top of the cut on the scion, and a slit in the 

 bark of the stock to admit it (care should be taken that 

 the slit in the bark of the stock does not exceed in length 

 the cut on the scion) ; raise the bark from the stock, and 



