GRAFTING AND NURSERIES. 239 



and the two bevels exactly juxtaposed. This graft succeeds 

 fairly well, but we do not think it is more meritorious than the 

 whip-tongue or English cleft-grafts. 



All the waxings which have been tried are now totally 

 abandoned. They are not only useless, but even detrimental. 

 If we recall what was said when studying the formation 

 of knitting tissue, this detrimental effect can be easily ex- 

 plained. It prevents the air, and, therefore, oxygen from 

 reaching the joint, and, in the case of grafts made on rooted 

 plants, when the sap begins to rise, it maintains around the 

 joint an excessive humidity, which is a very great obstacle 

 to the formation of knitting tissue. 



III. GRAFTING ON GROWING STALKS AND BENCH 



GRAFTING 



The various grafts studied may be executed ist, on the 

 growing stocks in the vineyards or in nurseries ; 2nd, indoors 

 on cuttings or rootlings (bench grafting). 



A. GRAFTING ON GROWING STOCKS. 



(a) Time of Grafting. Grafting on growing stocks is 

 generally performed during the months of March, April, and 

 May. But, during this period, is there any more favor- 

 able time which can be fixed? If it were not for the risk 

 the scion runs of rotting or drying, we are of opinion that 

 early grafts have better chances of success, and that those 

 made in February or March should give a better number of 

 strike than those made later on, in April or May. It has 

 been noticed, in fact, that grafts made when the stock is in 

 full sap do not generally knit, and there is a common saying 

 to the effect that the sap drowns the scion. The sap drowns 

 nothing at all. If we place a portion of a cane or a scion in 

 water it will grow, especially if the water contains nutritive 

 matters, and it will not be " drowned." The sap surrounding 

 the scion is, after all, water, with several other substances dis- 

 solved in it, which are also nutritive matters; they seem, 

 however, to be injurious to the scion. It is, as established 

 previously, that water (or the sap) opposes the formation of 

 knitting tissue. Callus pads will never develop on the base 



