VIIL] OLD TREES CHANGED TO MODERN BUSHES 43 



modern bushes, producing the very best quality of fruit. 

 The operation must be performed in spring, when the sap 

 is active. The tree to be grafted is called the " stock," the 

 new young sorts " scions." The scions should be portions 

 of the previous season's growth, selected from healthy and 

 well-known parents. The stock should be in a state of 

 vegetation, somewhat in advance of the graft, otherwise the 

 flow of sap will be insufficient to supply the wants of the 

 scion. To secure this, therefore, the grafts or scions should 

 be taken off from the trees some weeks before they are 

 wanted, and kept fresh in moist earth under a north wall 

 while the stock is advancing. During winter grafts may 

 be conveyed long 

 distances, if carefully 

 packed in damp moss. 

 From the beginning of 

 March to the middle of 

 April is the best grafting 

 season, earlier or later, 

 according as climate and 

 other circumstances 

 suggest. 



When the grafts and 

 stock (a, b, c] have been 

 fitted together, (e) and 

 tied firmly with baste, 



they must be covered with a plaster composed^of clay^and 

 stable manure, of the consistency of putty, rolled closely 

 round the point of juncture. Whenever this gets dry and 



