56 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



curiosity, and to aflford amusement, than from any benefit they ex- 

 pected to derive from the unions made by them between scion and 

 stock. How far they succeeded in obtaining practical results from the 

 unions made, we have been unable to ascertain ; yet we have no san- 

 guine hopes that the results were great. It is a pleasure to us, how- 

 ever, to be able to look back through the dark vista of two thousand 

 years to the cradle-days of a science which is of so much benefit to 

 the gardening world of the present time. 



There are various modes of grafting, but it is purposed to make 

 reference only to that mode of it which is in most general use for the 

 Pear when young, and which is known as whip-grafting, or, as it is 

 sometimes called, tongue or splice grafting. Having in our arrange- 

 ments generally spoken of the Quince stock before the Pear stock, we 

 shall treat it first; for although the mechanical operation in both cases is 

 the same, yet the after-treatment varies to some extent. We shall 

 surmise that the stocks to be worked have been well grown, and are 

 not less than H inches in circumference, and have been headed over 

 in winter to about 6 inches. The scions we also expect to have been 

 selected from the desired sorts at the pruning season, and that all the 

 best ripened and strongest of the wood has been reserved for this pur- 

 pose. This mode of grafting is invariably done in spring — from the 

 middle of March to the middle of April — but the state of both scion and 

 stock, as well as the other attending circumstances, must all bear more 

 or less upon the time when it ought to be done. As a general rule, 

 we find the first week in April to suit as well as, if not better than, any 

 time prior to this date, as, generally speaking, the stock is beginning 

 to be pretty active, while the scion is still in a dormant or semi-torpid 

 condition, and these we consider the conditions upon which the greater 

 amount of success depends. This is the very reason which induces us 

 not to transplant stocks the year of grafting, as, being established in 

 the ground, they are easier and more quickly excited when spring 

 comes, and consequently are just as far ahead of the graft as is neces- 

 sary to insure success. If the stock had been transplanted prior to 

 this operation, the check sustained would have to be overcome, and 

 the tree would be longer in showing signs of active vegetation. At 

 the very least, there ought to be a week between the stock and the 

 scion, and in proof of this we may refer the reader to what Dr Lindley 

 has said upon this point, and which in practice we find to be correct. 

 At page 339 of his 'Theory of Horticulture/ he says : — 



The scion should be more backward in its vegetation than the stock, because 

 it will then be less excitable, otherwise its budsjmay begin to grow before a fit- 

 ting communication is established between the stock and scion, and the latter 

 ■will be exhausted by its own vigour ; if, on the contrary, the stock is in a state of 



