GRAFTING AND NURSERIES. 



247 



1 



" The knitting begins at a few points of contact before 



the autumn, but the scion remains with dormant eyes; its 



buds burst the following spring, at the 



same time as those of the stock. This 



early start necessitates sheltering the 



grafts during the first year, in districts 



liable to early spring frosts. 



" The graft may be performed in 



summer, with equal chances of success, 



using scions which were stratified in dry 



sand during winter ; but the scions grow 



during the same summer and produce 



insufficiently lignified wood, easily affected 



by the inclemency of winter; conse- 

 quently, the following spring they are in 



less advantageous circumstances than the 



scions of the year. 



' The soil is then earthed up so as to 



completely cover the scion. When the 



soil is not sufficiently mellow, it is pre- 

 ferable to use sand for immediate contact 



with the scion. For this operation a metal 



cylinder or piece of down-piping split Defective^cieft. 



along its side is placed around the scion 



and filled with sand; the soil is then earthed up around it 



and the cylinder lifted out. 



"As an alternative a small 

 basin may be made with soil 

 around the scion and filled 

 with sand, finishing the 

 mound with soil. 



" During winter the 

 grafted stock is pruned in 

 the ordinary way. 



" For the pinching or sup- 

 pression of the shoots of the 

 stock, cut the stock with a 

 secateur an inch or two 

 above the joint, when the 

 buds begin to shoot; or care- 

 fully pinch all the shoots on 

 the stock as they develop. 

 Fig. Tsz.-cadmasd-cieft Graft. The latter method requires- 



Fig. 131. 



