214, GRAFTING AND BUDDING. 



as a rule, and constitutes the so-called wild "stock". The branch which yields the 

 bud for the operation or which is itself transferred in its entirety to the wild stock 

 is named, in the terminology of horticulture, the noble "scion". 



The process of ennobling is effected either by grafting or by budding. In 

 grafting the stem of the stock is cut off transversely, an excision is made at the 

 periphery of the surface of the section and the scion is inserted in this opening. 

 The scion must be previously trimmed to fit; in preparing it care must be taken 

 that it bears a pair of healthy buds, and that the end to be inserted is cut so as to 

 correspond to the form of the fissure made in the stock. In inserting it one must 

 see that, as far as possible, the bark, bast, and wood of the one come into contact 

 with the corresponding parts of the other. The wounds of the stock caused by the 

 operation are then covered by a mass of putty, wax, or some other protective 

 medium, and the chances are that the branch thus introduced will contract an 

 organic union with the substratum, that nutritive matter will be supplied it by the 

 substratum, and that new branches will sprout from its buds. In this case there- 

 fore the nutriment taken from the ground by the stock passes into the grafted 

 scion, and the scion, which develops branches from its buds, and ultimately may 

 become a densely ramifying tree-top, behaves as a parasite, whilst the stock plays 

 the part of host. 



It not infrequently happens that a substratum supporting at its summit the 

 branches of a grafted scion develops subsequently branches of its own lower down 

 as well, and the curious sight is then afforded of a tree or shrub bearing different 

 foliage, flowers, and fruit on its inferior parts from those of its upper regions. If, 

 for example, the stem of a Quince is used as substratum, and Medlar branches are 

 grafted upon it, the result may be a bush or tree which exhibits below branches 

 with the round leaves, rose-coloured flowers, and golden " pomes " of the Quince, 

 and above branches with the oblong leaves, white flowers, and brown fruit of the 

 Medlar. Gardeners, of course, do not willingly allow this to happen, but carefully 

 remove the branches belonging to the stock in order that all the food materials 

 may fall to the lot of the grafted plant, and the latter thrive as vigorously and 

 luxuriantly as possible. 



The same result is obtained by budding as by grafting; but here a single bud of 

 the scion, instead of an entire branch, is transferred to the stock. This is accom- 

 plished in the following manner: Two incisions at right angles forming a T, 

 are made in a branch of not too great age belonging to the plant employed as 

 substratum. These cuts are carried through the bark as far as the wood. The two 

 lobes of bark, formed by the T-shaped incision, are then carefully raised from the 

 wood, and the bud to be transplanted is pushed in under them. The bud which has 

 previously been taken away from the scion must have retained in that process a 

 portion of bark, and usually the bit of bark peeled off is given the shape of a little 

 shield. This shield, carrying the bud that is to be transferred upon it, is now 

 introduced between the two lobes above mentioned, and the lobes are folded over 

 it in such a manner as to allow the bud to project freely from the slit between the 



