[ 114 j 



XX. On the Chinese Method of propagating Fruit-trees 

 by Abscission. By Dr. James Howison, London *. 



-l HE Chinese, in place of raising fruit-trees from seeds or 

 from grafts, as is the custom in Europe, have adopted the 

 following method of increasing them. 



They select a tree of that species which they wish to pro- 

 pagate, and fix upon such a branch as will least hurt or dis- 

 figure the tree by its removal. 



Round this branch, and as near as they can conveniently 

 to its junction with the trunk, they wind a rope, made of 

 straw, besmeared with cow dung, until a ball is fornied, 

 five or six times the diameter of the branch. This is intended 

 as a bed into which the young roots may slioot. Having 

 performed this part of the operation, they immediately under 

 the ball divide the bark down to the wood, for nearly two- 

 thirds of the circumference of the branch. A cocoa-nut 

 shell or small pot is then hung over the ball, with a hole in 

 its bottom, so small that water put therein will only«fall in 

 drops ; by this the rope is constantly kept moist, a circum- 

 stance necessary to the easy admission of the young roots, 

 and to the supply of nourishment to the branch from this 

 new channel. 



During three succeeding weeks, nothing further is re- 

 quired, except supplying the vessels with water. At the ex- 

 piration of that period one-third of the remaining bark is 

 cut, and the former incision is carried considerably deeper 

 into the wood, as by this time it is expected that some roots 

 have struck into the rope, and are giving their assistance ia 

 support of the branch. 



After a similar period the same operation is repeated, and 

 in about two months from the commencement of the pro- 

 cess, the roots may generally be seen intersecting each other 

 on the surface of the ball ; which is a sign that they are suf- 

 ficiently advanced to admit of the separation of the branch 

 from the tree. This is best done by sawing it ofTat the in- 



♦ From Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Ma- 

 Qufactures, and Conitnerce, for 1807. 



cision. 



