178 PRINCIPLES OF GARDENING. [CH. V. 



never possessed the Imowledge thus claimed — not 

 only because it is denied by modem experience and 

 science; but because we know that by stratagem 

 such unions may be made to appeal' as if effected, 

 and none of the ancient writers on the soil s culture 

 were practical men. Moreover, in considering this 

 question, it must not be forgotten that it was denied 

 that such grafting was possible, even by some of their 

 contemporaries. Columella, in his treatise on trees, 

 has a chapter maintaining by argument the possibility 

 of promiscuous grafting in opposition to some other 

 authors who denied its practicabiUty. Arguments 

 would have been needless if there were examples of 

 success ready for reference. 



Inarching differs from grafting only in having 

 the scion still attached to its parent stem whilst the 

 process of union -with the stock is proceeding. It is 

 the most certain mode of multiplying an indi\'idual 

 that roots or grafts with difficulty, but is attended 

 with the inconvenience that both the stock and 

 the parent of the scion must be neighbours. The 

 most ingenious application of inarching is one 

 suggested by Mr. Knight. If a fruit-bearing branch 

 becomes denuded of its leaves above the fruit it 

 has produced, this either falls, or remains stunted 

 and deficient in flavour, owing to bemg thus de- 

 prived of a supply of the elaborated sap or proper 

 juice. In such case a branch having leaves of the 



