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ANNUAL KEPOBT 



tings planted in the ground, hence they are propagated by other 

 methods, grafting and budding being the most common. The 

 process of grafting consists in the insertion of a cion of one 

 variety or specie into or upon the stem or branch of another, 

 which is called the stock. Oions are generally made from shoots 

 of the previous year's growth, but sometimes those bearing 

 fruit buds are used for experiment. They should be cut in the 

 autumn, after the fall of the leaves, and carefully preserved 

 through the winter by burying them in a pit in dry, sandy 

 soil, with earth so piled over them as to turn water; or they may 

 be kept in a cool, dry cellar, packed in sawdust, or some other 

 material, to prevent shrinking of the bark. If kept too moist 

 they will decay; if too warm the butts will callous over, which 

 will weaken their vitality, and renders cherries and plums 

 worthless. A moderate sized shoot, or cion, if well matured, is 

 better than one that is large, pithy and unripe. Only perfect 

 cions should be used, or incipient disease is started that no after 

 treatment can eradicate. 



Two methods of grafting that are most generally practiced, 

 are, viz: whip grafting and cleft grafting. Whip grafting is the 

 method mostly practiced in root grafting in nurseries. For this 



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purpose seedling stocks one or two years old are generally used 

 of one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch in diameter. These 

 seedlings are better for being dug in the fall and buried in the 



