68 The Garden. 



a seedling apple-tree stock ; or between nearly allied species 

 of the same genus, as between the apple and the pear, which 

 unions are comparatively imperfect and short-lived ; or, thirdly, 

 between nearly allied genera, as between the cherry and the 

 plum, which maintain a feeble existence for a limited period, 

 and then die. All unions, therefore, betAveen widely different 

 genera and species, are utterly impossible, as the graft can not 

 live upon the sap supplied by the stock, any more than a lion 

 can be fed upon grass. 



To produce dwarf trees, Apple is grafted upon Paradise (or 

 Doucin) stocks ; the Pear upon the Quince, Thorn, or Mountain 

 Ash; the Peach upon the Plum; the Plum upon Mirabelle 

 Plum seedlings ; the Cherry upon the Cerasus Mahaleb, and, 

 in general, any tree upon any other kindred tree of slower or 

 smaller growth. 



The stock and the graft (scion or bud) exert influences upon 

 each other mutually. The stock often affects the size and 

 flavor of the fruit borne by the graft. Of a graft or stock, 

 either may communicate its own diseases and infirmities to the 

 other. It is pretty well estabhshed, also, that stocks bearing 

 early fruits have an influence in accelerating the ripening of 

 the fruits which may be made to grow upon them by grafting. 



Grafting Wax. — To make grafting wax of an excellent 

 quality, take four parts of resin, two of beeswax, and one of 

 tallow; melt the whole together, pour the composition into 

 cold water, and work it over thoroughly, pulling it as you 

 would molasses candy. The hardness of the wax may be in- 

 creased or lessened by applying more or less tallow. In cold 

 weather keep the composition in warm water, and in warm 

 weather in cold water, to secure the proper consistency for use. 

 In using it, the hands should be slightly greased. 



XIV.-PEUNING. 



The principal objects souglit to be attained by pruning are 

 to promote the growth, improve the form, and increase the 

 fruitfulness of trees. No operation in horticulture requires 



