1873.] HABDY CLIMBERS. 177 



bring them to bear fruit of themselves. We may thus also have several varieties of fruit on 

 the same tree, which, however, is perhaps neither an advantage nor the reverse. The scions 

 arc taken by preference from those trees which are usually too heavily laden with fruit, and 

 the fruit-buds which are destined to fall at the next pruning will answer exactly for gi-afting 

 purposes. The scions are cut from the parent-tree just before using them ; their leaves 

 must bo removed at once, and the scions themselves kept in a cool place in a vessel of water 

 or in damp moss. The scions are generally prepared in the manner already described under 

 the heads of side-grafting with a simple branch, or one with a heel, and veneer-grafting with 

 straps. A skilful operator will know how to use them in different processes. The figure 

 shows a scion i^ropared. The sloping cuts are made on the back and at the base. The stock 

 has been prepared with a X incision, and the scion inserted under the raised bark. Some- 

 times the bark at the head of the X is pared away to facilitate the insertion of the scion. A 

 scion which appears rather long should not be thrown away ; all that is necessary is to make 

 the sloping cut longer, even to the extent of half the length of the scion ; in this 

 way some fruit-buds on the back of the scion may bo inlaid in the incision made in 

 the stock. Frequently the scion is an exceedingly short branch, or even a simplo 

 fruit-bud. It should bo cut off with a strip of bark and alburnum an inch or two in length 

 attached. Care should be taken not to remove the woody part at the base ; it should bo 

 merely smoothed down so as to ensure its cohesion ; it is then inserted into the X incision in 

 the stock. It should be bandaged rather lightly throiighout, and the points of junction 

 covered with clay, mastic, or the leaf of a tree, should any part of the tissues remain exposed. 

 The bandage should not be removed before the fruit has set in the beginning of the following 

 summer. Should there be any fruiting-spurs ready for grafting when the sap is not very 

 abundant, it will bo best to employ cleft-grafting, inlaying, or crown-grafting. On shoots and 

 simple but vigoroiis branches success is more certain in autumn than in spring, but the best 

 time is from July to September with side-grafting under the bark. The process of veneering 

 with strips might also be advantageously used. The Pear-tree is best adapted for this opera- 

 tion. Very fertile and large-fruited varieties, such as Beurre Clairgeau, Williams', Colmar, 

 D'Aremberg, &c., yield splendid crops by this method. The fruit-buds preserve their fruit- 

 bearing properties. The figure shows the result in 1867 of a graft made in 1S60, and for 

 seven years it has constantly borne fruit. We have proved the advantage of this process 

 during twenty years' experience of fruit-bud grafting in our schools of fruit-culture. We aro 

 indebted for it to M. Gabriel Luizet, of Ecully, to whom belongs the credit of having first 

 made it commonly known, although it had been invented for some time before hi brought it 

 into practice." 



The accompanying figures, copied, with, slight variations, from the ilkistrations to 



ihe chapter above quoted, show the different modes of fruit-bud grafting and its 



results.— T. Moobe. 



HAEDY CLIMBERS. 



>0W is the time for observing the value and adaptability of hardy climbing 

 and trailing plants as decorative objects in our gardens, or around our 

 dwellings. A few notes made at this season will be of great service when 

 the planting time comes on. 

 The foremost position may be awarded to the Virginian Creeper (Ampelopsis)^ 

 so largely used for draping walls, balconies, or verandahs in the neighbourhood 

 of London. For hiding any unsightly feature in the garden, or for draping a 

 blank wall with freshness and beauty during the summer, this plant has few 

 equals, while in the autumn its foliage assumes all the rich and varying tints of 

 the waning year. Some of tlie strong-growing /yzVs may be used for blank walls 

 or screens, and though much slower in growth than the Ampelopsis, they have 

 the additional advantage of being evergreen. Ivy should, however, always be 

 closely clipped in about the middle of April, or just before its young foliage 

 expands ; then you get rid of all the rubbish and litter of falling leaves during 



