OBSERVATIONS ON GRAFTING. 27 



and taking from a twig a thin scallop of wood of the same 

 length ; this is instantly applied, and fitted perfectly at top 

 and bottom, and as nearly as possible on its sides, and firmly 

 bound with wet bass matting. This may be performed iu 

 the spring, and if it fails, it may be done again in the month 

 of July. The French practice this mode on Roses. 



GRAFTING. 



Grafting is the taking a shoot from one tree and inserting 

 it into another, in such a manner that both may unite closely, 

 and become one tree. These shoots are called scions 01 

 grafts, and in the choice of them, and the mode of preparing 

 some descriptions of stocks, the following hints will be 

 useful : 



Those scions are best which are taken from the lateral or 

 horizontal, rather than from the strong perpendicular shoots. 

 The shoots of Apples, &c., should be taken from healthy 

 trees late in autumn, or before the buds begin to swell in the 

 spring, and buried half of their length in the ground, or in 

 a cool and diy cellar ; there to remain until the season of 

 grafting. 



For some descriptions of trees, the stocks are headed 

 down near to the ground. In nurseries, Apples intended 

 for standards are generally grafted about nine inches high 

 only, allowing them to grow up standard high, and forming 

 their heads upon the second year's shoots. In cider coun- 

 tries, the stock is generally trained up standard high ; and 

 when grown sufficiently large for the purpose, it is grafted 

 at the height at which it is intended the head of the tree 

 shall be formed. As respects trees in general, directions 

 will be found under their appropriate heads. 



The business of grafting is generally performed in March 

 and April : there are various methods of grafting, but the 

 following are those most generally practised : 



