44 THE FLOEAL "WOELD AND GAEDEN GUIDE. 



on which they are to be put ; this will, in ordinary seasons, he about 

 the middle of March, commencing with cherries, then pears, plums, 

 and lastly, apples, which will succeed when put in any time up to 

 the middle of April. 



Stocks on which to graft may be reared from seeds, although 

 many sorts of apples grow easily by slip, even when half an inch in 

 diameter. 



Paradise stocks, also — which are obtained by slipping those trees 

 of mature growth which throw out fibrous knots, which knots 

 become the roots, when put underground — should be grown to graft 

 dwarfs upon; they present a very handsome appearance in flower 

 borders, and grow well in large pots or tubs. When you are ready 

 to put on the grafts, have by you a sharp knife, a triangular-shaped 

 wedge for raising the bark, a mixture of clay and horse-dung 

 thoroughly incorporated, and a supply of bast strands, well wetted. 



In this operation there are three points to be attended to : first, 

 the preparation of the stock ; secondly, the preparation of the scion ; 

 and thirdly, the adjustment of the one to the other. These vary 

 according as the stock is old or young. In preparing the stock, it 

 is necessary to bear in mind at what height you require to put in 

 the graft : if for a wall or espalier, this should be about six inches 

 from the ground ; if for a standard, from three to six feet. For 

 young stocks, that mode called tongue grafting is most suitable, 

 while for old ones, crown grafting is more certain of success ; indeed, 

 a knowledge of these two methods is sufficient for all practical pur- 

 poses, our object being to exclude any operation which does not 

 combine efficiency with economy. These, then, I shall notice sepa- 

 rately. 



1. Tongue Grafting. — Prepare the stock by making a clean, 

 slanting incision nearly two inches long, and at a height suited to the 

 result wished, and with the knife cut a slit downwards in the form 

 of a tongue, beginning at the upper third of the slope ; next, pre- 

 pare the scion, by making an incision similar, and of equal length, 

 to that on the stock, making a slit or tongue in like manner ; after 

 which proceed to adjust the scion to the stock by inserting the 

 tongue within each other, being careful to have the inner bark of 

 both touching on one side ; then tie it carefully with a strand of 

 bast, after which, having first wetted the stock and scion, apply the 

 clay compost in such bulk as to exclude the air and preserve the 

 scion moist until adhesion takes place ; surround the whole with a 

 little moss retained with a strand, which will prevent it from crack- 

 ing, as well as prove a medium for administering moisture, if the 

 weather should prove too sultry. 



2. Cbown Grafting. — This consists in making a horizontal cut 

 in the stock at the proper height ; pare it smooth, and on the 

 smoothest side of the bark make a slit, one and a half inches in 

 length, down to the wood ; then, with the triangular wedge, raise 

 the bark only on one side ; this is much superior to the ordinary 

 method of raising both sides, as it is more successful, and much more 

 easily adjusted, as will be seen in the tying. Prepare the scion by 

 a slanting cut, making a shoulder on which to rest it when inserted ; 



