90 PROPAGATION BY DIVISION. [CHAP. IT. 



taken, and has thrown out a sufficient number 

 of leaves to carry on the elaboration of the sap, 

 all the branches of the original plant above the 

 graft are cut away, to strengthen the inarched 

 one. 



Camellias are also now frequently grafted in 

 a manner first practised in Belgium, but which 

 has now become general, which has the ad- 

 vantage of producing flowering plants much 

 sooner than by any other plan. This mode of 

 grafting may be practised at any season, and 

 on a stock of any age, from the cutting of a 

 year old to the long-established plant, provided 

 it be healthy and of sufficiently small size to 

 be grown in a pot. The head of the stock is 

 cut off close to a leaf which has a strong 

 healthy bud in its axil. The cut is made 

 sloping upwards to the leaf, and on the pre- 

 servation of this leaf and bud a great part of 

 the success of the operation depends. The 

 stock is then split in face of the leaf and bud 

 to a depth equal to two-thirds of its thickness ; 

 and the scion, which has been previously cut 

 with a sharp knife into the shape of a wedge 

 terminating in a narrow point, is inserted. 

 The bark of the stock and that of the scion are 

 united as closely as possible, and the two are 

 tied firmly together ; the wound in the scion, 

 where the head was cut off, being covered with 

 pitch, to prevent the possibility of any moisture 

 entering the wood, though no pitch is per- 

 mitted'to touch the point of junction between 

 the scion and the stock, lest it should prevent 

 the uniting of the bark. Sometimes, as soon 

 as the operation is finished, the pot containing 



