IRISH GARDENING. 



6i 



Saddle Grafting is a very neat and satisfactory 

 method of grafting where stock and scion are nearly 

 equal in size, the union being almost perfect, and very 

 little danger of the scion getting damaged by winds. 

 The s4ock is prepared by cutting its top in shape like a 

 wedge, the scion is then slit up its centre, each half 

 being thinned off to a tongue shape. It is then placed 

 astride the stock, hence its name ; its inner barks are 

 made to join on one side of the stock. It is then firmly 

 bound in position, and air excluded as in other methods. 

 To be successful in grafting there is one important 

 factor which must be borne in mind — this is, that the 

 dividing line separating the bark from the wood in the 

 scion must be placed exactly opposite the .same line in 

 the .stock, af least in some part, and the greater the 

 part the more readily will union take place. It is not 

 sufficient to place bark to bark, as the bark of the one 

 may be much thicker than that of the other. It is here, 

 too, the substance called cambium lies, upon which the 

 descending fibres of the scion feed as they strike down- 

 wards in their search for food. If the operator bears 

 this in mind and excludes air, af\er a very few trials he 

 can do the work equally well as the man who has spent 

 years at it. 



Grafting clay, to cover union of graft and stock to 

 exclude air until growth has fairly well developed, may 

 be made as follows : — 



Clay, one part ; road scrapings, in which horse- 

 droppings form a good proportion, one part ; break up 

 well, make into a thick mortar by adding water ; or 

 clay and pure cow manure in equal quantities, mixed 

 well together and made into mortar. To each of these 

 mixtures add some chopped hay or very short grass, 

 but I have found the above do quite well without either. 

 When being put on it should be well worked in the 

 hands, and in a day or two, if signs of cracking appear 

 they should be gone over by dipping the hand in water 

 and rubbing them until quite closed again. If this be 

 done it will seldom be necessary to have them seen to a 

 second time. 



Grafting wax is sold for the same purpose. It is put 

 up in tins ready for use cold ; or home made ones mav 

 be made as follows : — 



1. Yellow wax, i lb. ; turpentine, i lb. ; Burgundy 

 pitch, 8 oz. ; mutton suet, 4 oz. Melt all together, mix 

 and let stand to cool ; may be used cold, and will not 

 stick to the fingers. 



2. Resin, I part ; yellow wax, i part. 



t;. Yellow wax, 2 parts ; or suet, i part. 



4. Burgundy pitch, i lb. ; black pitch, 4 oz. ; yellow 

 wax, 2 oz. ; resin, 2 oz. ; mutton suet, 2 drachms. The 

 above three, Nos. 2, 3, and 4 have to be used warm, 

 which is a drawback. 



Prini.ng Newly Planted Tree.s. — Much diflferences 

 ot opinion exist amongst fruit growers as to whether 

 fruit trees should be pruned or not the first season ; 

 some favour doing so and others take the opposite view. 

 Trees which have been planted sufficiently early in the 

 autumn to allow them to take to their new quarters 

 before winter sets in will now be showing signs of 

 growth, and may safely be pruned ; to defer doing so 

 would mean a great loss of energy in allowing the lead- 

 ing shoots to expand their leaves when the sap should 

 be directed towards forming new shoots. If trees are 



carefiilh' primed during the first few years of their lives, 

 all branches which cross each other cut clean away and 

 the centre kept open, very little severe pruning will 

 afterwards be necessary. Trees which have been 

 planted during winter and spring may be allowed to 

 grow as they are without pruning until next season. 

 Encourage growth in these and to this end. If at all dry 

 <al the roots, or if harsh, windy weather prevails, they 

 should be regularly supplied with water ; if this be ne- 

 glected loss of trees will ensue, as they, being so late 

 planted, have not had an opportunity of making new 

 roots. 



Cropping Roind Friit Trees. — The planting of a 

 root crop, such as potatoes, turnips, &c. , round fruit 

 trees the first few years after being planted is a common 

 practice, and one, too, to be recommended, as consider- 

 able loss of ground would otherwise result. But it 

 ought to be more judiciously carried out than is verv often 

 the case. Kar too often we see trees during the summer 

 and autumn smothered by the crop growing round them. 

 This should not be. Due regard ought to be had for the 

 trees, and their requirements more carefully studied, 

 as trees in such a case are deprived of light and air — 

 most important factors to their well being— and, what is 

 of equal or possibly more importance, they are robbed 

 of moisture during the whole growing .season. By all 

 means crop round the trees, but do not encroach on 

 their roots. At first it is possible to crop to within a 

 yard of the tree ; each succeeding year we must keep 

 further and further from it, until such time as we find 

 the trees require all for themselves. 



The Flower Garden. 



By J. H. ClMMING, Over 



Roval Dublin Societv, 



Balls Bridge. 



WILD G.^RDENING. -There can be no more 

 agreeable phases of communion with nature 

 than naturalising the natives of countries in 

 which we are infinitely more interested than in those 

 of which greenhouse or stove plants are native. Anv- 

 one who has seen examples of wild gardening realises 

 how artistic and delightful it can be made. Hundreds 

 of the finest hardy flowers will thrive much better in 

 rough places than ever they did in the old-fashioned 

 border. Again, it enables us to grow many plants that 

 could never obtain a place in our .so-called "trim 

 gardens," and also to make a good patch or clump of a 

 subject where the best effect can be seen. Many years 

 ago this style of gardening was begun at Carton by the 

 late Duchess of Leinster. In woodland walks and 

 drives, and high up in the crevices of rocks, may now 

 be found beautiful pictures as the springs and summers 

 pass. In an old gravel pit at St. Helen's, Booterstown, 

 the wild garden idea has been h.appily worked out, and 

 a delightful result obtained from what looked lately very 

 unpromising material. To illustrate this, what is the 

 planting in grass of daffodils, snowdrops, crocus, tulips, 

 anemones, and .soforth, but wild gardening? Amplify 

 this by also planting good, big patches of such things as 

 foxgloves, pa^onies, helianthus, dorc>tiicimi, polygonium, 

 riuibeckia, veronicas, heracleum, echinops, digitalis, 

 campanulas and starworts. While all these plants are 

 perfectly hardy, and require no attention after once 



