252 THE GARDENER. [June 



if 4 to 6 inches is not a better height to graft at than higher, as the 

 more exalted the seat of union is between the scion and stock, the 

 more chances there are that they may be broken, either by working 

 amongst them or from the violence of the wind. The union is but 

 very slight for some considerable time, so that the more secure the 

 position we select for them, the greater will be our chances of success. 

 In the case of grafting at standard height, I would invariably recom- 

 mend that the stem be made very secure to a strong stake, and as 

 soon as the scion is long enough to be tied, let it also be made secure 

 in a like manner. The stocks for the Apple ought to be treated in 

 exactly the same way as recommended for the Pear, by root-pruning 

 regularly every year except the one when the union is to be formed ; 

 and the reasons for this mode of procedure are exactly the same in 

 both cases. In selecting a tree from which to obtain scions, let it be 

 as healthy as possible, and free from canker ; for although canker is a 

 disease which is most generally brought on by surrounding circum- 

 stances, yet, nevertheless, I believe it to be in a great measure 

 hereditary, and that it will take the greatest amount of cultural skill 

 to keep a tree healthy which has been grafted from an unhealthy 

 parent. 



Cut down the stocks when the tree is dormant to within 2 or 3 

 inches of where the union is to be effected, and obtain also the grafts 

 about the same time. They may be tied in small bundles and put 

 in by "the heels" into the soil, until the grafting season comes round, 

 which, according to position and climate, will be from the middle of 

 March till the middle of April. As in the Pear, so in the Apple — the 

 stock ought to be slightly, if possible, in advance of the scion, when a 

 better and quicker union is effected than if they were exactly in the 

 same stage of growth. If a stock were in a dormant state, and had a 

 scion considerably in advance of it inserted upon it, the result would 

 be death to the graft before the energies of the stock were brought to 

 bear thereupon. 



Whip -grafting is the method in most general use for young Apple- 

 trees ; and as we have detailed the operation in speaking of the Pear, 

 we need not here repeat it again. 



In treating of the Pear, I quite inadvertently neglected to speak of 

 "crown-grafting." This is a mode of grafting in very general use for 

 renewing, or rather refurnishing, of Apple and Pear trees where the 

 varieties upon the stock become unproductive, through the influence of 

 climate or from some other cause, or where it may be desirous to 

 introduce a better variety. The scions are to be obtained at the usual 

 time, and the stock cut back to the desired height during the dormant 

 season. As a rule, such old stocks will in all probability be earlier 



