1869.] CULTIVATION OF HARDY FRUITS. 59 



nice broad soft piece of bast mat, and tie the two tightly together, 

 being careful, however, not to use more than is absolutely necessary 

 to keep the graft in its place, as if too much mat is used it will have 

 a prejudicial effect in keeping back a considerable amount of the 

 moisture of the clay, which experience has taught us is of so 

 much benefit to the graft. This being done, cover the whole 

 over to the depth of an inch or two with clay, or whatever is 

 being used for covering. As the Pear does not form a union 

 nearly so readily upon the Quince as the wild Pear, it has been 

 found to be absolutely necessary to have recourse to what is called 

 " earthing or banking-up.^' This is done by drawing soil up over the 

 place of union, and covering the whole save the top buds of the scion, 

 much in the same way as " earthing-up " culinary crops. By doing 

 this, the graft is kept in a more genial condition with regard to mois- 

 ture, tfec, and is thereby enabled to struggle longer for existence. It 

 will be some considerable time ere the buds show many signs of pro- 

 gress, but in the interim the bud upon the stock may attempt to push 

 strong, and if so, it ought to be pinched back to one eye at every attempt, 

 until the scion begins to push, when it ought to be cut right off, to 

 throw the whole sap of the stock into the graft. As soon as a few 

 inches of wood are formed, the clay may be removed and the ligatures 

 cut off, as they may be getting tight and marking the bark. It will be 

 better, however, to re-tie them afresh and draw up the earth again to keep 

 them steady, and enable them better to withstand the action of the 

 wind, which might very easily break them off, as the union is of a very 

 slender nature for a considerable time. It will be noticed that our 

 mode differs in several particulars from that recommended by MTntosh, 

 Thomson, and Lindley ; but we are of opinion that good grounds can 

 be shown for adopting our principles. Lindley, in his ' Theory of 

 Horticulture,' see page 314, gives a sketch of whip-grafting, where the 

 stock is cut over a considerable distance above the last bud ; and we 

 therefore reject this portion of his instructions upon the principle laid 

 down by Thomson, who considers a bud at the top, if not absol- 

 utely necessary, at least of much practical utility and benefit to the 

 scion. Again Thomson, in ' Gardener's Assistant,' see page 391, gives 

 a cut of his mode of whip-grafting, wherein the tongue is very short, 

 placed near the top of the scion, and entered right at the top of the 

 stock. From him we also differ in this particular, that we prefer a 

 long tapering tongue beginning near the bottom of the scion, terminat- 

 ing near the top of the cut, and which is entered half an inch from 

 the top of the stock. By performing the operation in this way, we 

 are of opinion that the graft is firmer and more secure from accident, 

 while there is a greater surface to form a union, so that when once a 



