PROPAGATION. 231 



in such a way as in dead wood bound together would 

 be strong. The difference is in this particular ; that, in 

 grafting, it is joining two hving pieces of wood, one of which 

 is a branch or the trunk of a plant growing, and the other 

 is a hving piece cut from another plant. Whatever join, 

 therefore, is intended, whether a sloping cut merely to both 

 pieces, so that they join neatly and hold together with 

 moderately firm tying, or cutting each piece half through to a 

 certain distance, and forming shoulders to fit each other, or 

 one cut into a wedge shape and the other having a cleft cut 

 like a clothes-peg to receive it, no matter what form or plan 

 is adopted so that it be done neatly and quickly, and if 

 bound up before the sap has time to dry, all and every kind 

 of splice is ejQ&cacious. It has only to be done with a sharp 

 knife and a dexterous hand, so that no part of either wound 

 be bruised or damaged, and the barks of each actually join 

 the other. So far as we have yet noticed, we contemplate 

 the graft and the stock, which is the plant the graft is put 

 on, as being of the same size ; but there is a mode of meeting 

 every circumstance under which grafting is performed. 



The objects in graftmg are various. One is, to give to a 

 weakly variety of any plant the benefit of a strong-growing 

 root and stem, and thus giving it a three or four years old 

 stem and root ; while, if it were a cutting, or layer upon its 

 own root, the plant would be actually older than the root, 

 and, consequently, the supply of sap limited for a considerable 

 time. Another object is, to multiply a new plant which is 

 valuable, by cutting off as many grafts as it will afford, and 

 putting them on stocks of a kind that is plentiful and cheap. 

 A third object is, to change a plant already growing well in 

 its place, from a variety we dislike to a variety we require ; by 

 which means we can change an entire orchard, if necessary, 

 from worthless to valuable, or from old to new fruit. Of 

 the many varieties of grafting that have been recommended 

 by different authors, many are whimsical, troublesome, and 

 occupy more time and attention than are at all necessary. 

 The more simple a graft is, the quicker it is done, and the 

 more certain of success ; for the sole aim in grafting is to 

 unite the two parts so that the piece grafted on shall imme- 

 diately be sustained by the plant it is joined to, and that this 

 may be the more readily accomplished, the air is kept away 

 from the join by means of a lump of grafting clay close fitted 



