iSyi.] REMARKS ON THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 79 



for Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, and many others, including all the 

 Almond tribe ; while Crab and White Thorn are used as stocks for 

 large numbers of trees in the natural order Rosacea. In all these 

 cases there is more or less relationship or affinity between stock and 

 scion, and it does not seem at all surprising that union should take 

 place. But in the case of ordinary forest-trees, such as Beech and 

 Elm, we fail to trace affinity, — the nature and grain of the timber are 

 so very different, Beech being so close and compact with a smooth 

 bark, whilst Elm is of a coarse grain with an exceedingly rough bark, 

 generally ribbed and cracked even to the liber. Yet divergent as 

 these two trees are, we lately found them growing on each other. The 

 Beech was the stock, and Elm the top. We confess we had to see these 

 trees before we could believe such a case possible. But see them we 

 did, two or three dozens of them forming a small avenue in a rather 

 thick plantation. The trees are perhaps fifty years old. The object in 

 working them would appear to be simply curiosity. They are worked 

 from 2 to 3 feet from the ground. There was an unusually large 

 rough ring at the point of junction, in which in many cases could be 

 traced the tongue of the graft. These trees have grown freely, and 

 had they been allowed room for development, would no doubt have 

 been large trees. We see no practical utility in the practice ; we 

 record it simply as a curiosity in arboriculture. 



W^hilst on the subject of grafting allow me to mention another case. 

 In the kitchen-garden where we live is a pond, on the bank of which 

 grows a large bushy Quince tree now partially blown on one side. 

 On one of the limbs of this Quince a graft of Jargonelle Pear had 

 been put some years ago. It grows freely, and produces perhaps as 

 fine fruit as one often sees of this favourite variety. What we wish to 

 draw attention to is not the fact of the Pear on the Quince — that is 

 common enough — but the fact of the Pear growing so vigorously on 

 the Quince, and in its turn causing the particular limb on which it is 

 worked to increase in proportion. Here we have a vigorous growth, 

 which in its turn reacts on the stock, each acting to the advantage of 

 the other. g. X. 



REMARKS ON THE CHRYSANTHEMUM. 



I HAVE to thank " Teetotaller " for his criticism of my " Hints " on the 

 Chrysanthemum in May 1870. At first sight I feared that I had 

 committed some great blunder, deserving the censure of the numerous 

 class for which said " Hints " are written. Of course they are not for 

 exhibitors, or those whose aim is sensational culture, whom I would 

 rather prefer to be my preceptors. We choose subjects (for brief 



