176 



THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



of a collection of standards for group- 

 ing. But as to the sorts, there need 

 be no restriction ; select according to 

 your own taste and judgment, bear- 

 ing in mind that you will not only 

 produce standards, but the heads of 

 your standards will grow much faster 

 than plants of the same kinds grow 

 in the ordinary way. You want for 

 the purpose a number of stout, 

 straight-stemmed geraniums of any 

 kind ; generally inferior kinds are 

 chosen because they are to be used 

 only for their stems. The best of all 

 for the purpose are seedlings that 

 have grown straight up to a height of 

 one to three feet, as the sacrifice of 

 their heads is a matter of very little 

 consequence. On these stems graft 

 the sorts required in the way shown 



course, have been cut back. Cut the 

 graft to a clean wedge, so as to fit in 

 the slit, so that the bark of graft and 

 stock will meet on both sides, if 

 possible ; if that is not possible, they 

 must meet on one side. Tie up mode- 

 rately firm with worsted thread, and 

 paint over with grafting mastic or 

 with clav paint. The work is now 

 done. Place the grafted plants in a 

 shaded pit or frame or greenhouse ; 

 give only as much water as will just 

 keep them from flagging. On fine 

 mornings sprinkle the tops slightly. 

 Beware of strong sunshine or cold 

 draughts. Three weeks after putting 

 on the grafts loosen the bandage 

 slightly ; but do not remove it till 

 six weeks from the date of grafting. 

 If grafts are put on now, there will 



THE GBAFT TIED UP. 



THE SCION AND STOCK MADE BEADY TO FIT. 



in the cut. This is the easiest of all 

 grafting operations, and really re- 

 quires but little practice to make the 

 operator perfect. Cut back the stock 

 to a place where the wood is half 

 ripe ; it must be sound and hard, but 

 neither green nor brown. Let the 

 scion be in the same half-ripe state. 

 Split the stock down an inch or an 

 inch and a half, and if possible chose 

 a place for the top of the stock where 

 it breaks into two branches. The 

 fork will be just the place for insert- 

 ing the graft. Such a place has been 

 chosen in the case represented, the 

 projecting arms being the remains of 

 two shoots at that point, which, of 



be time to get the junction well 

 ripened before winter, and if the 

 grafted plants are put in the stove in 

 January they will make a fine growth 

 for next summer's use. The leaves 

 and shoots of the stock must be re- 

 moved by degrees until the head alone 

 takes all the sap. 



Clay Paint foe Hekeaceous 

 CrKAFTiNG. — Take some soft clay and 

 knead it with a little water till it is 

 of a pasty consistency ; then put it 

 into a clean vessel with a little more 

 water and work it about with an old 

 brush till it is of the thickness of 

 cream, free from grit, and semi- 

 liquid. Paint the graft with this, and 



