AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



91 



Grafting continued. 



pot plant (as shown in Fig. 145) that may be taken 

 to any place desired, or one planted in close proximity 

 to the stock. A similar portion of wood should be re- 

 moved from both the parts intended for joining, and 

 they must be carefully fitted together and secured with 



Fio. 145. GRAFTING BY APPROACH. 



tying material and a bandage. Sometimes, a tongue is 

 cut in the plant forming the scion, and made to fit into a 

 corresponding notch in the stock at the point where the 

 barks meet. In other methods of Inarching, the stock 

 is cut off and the scion inserted on or near its point ; 

 and for restoring defective parts, the terminal point of 

 the scion is cut with a thin edge, as for a splice-graft, 

 and inserted where required. Grafting by Approach is 

 much practised with Vines for obtaining fruiting wood 

 of any particular kind in a shorter time than would be 

 possible by ordinary propagation. Some varieties also 

 succeed better when grafted on a stock which is more 

 vigorous than their own. After the cut portions heal 

 and become established, the work of detaching them from 

 their own roots, and removing the branches from the 

 upper extremity of the stock, must be very gradually 

 performed, to avoid extreme checks. 



Herbaceous Grafting, as its name indicates, is applic- 

 able for increasing plants when still growing, but, at the 

 same time, becoming solidified and passing into an her- 

 baceous state. The system has been applied with success 

 in Grafting the Melon on the Cucumber, the Tomato on 

 the Potato, dwarf species of cacti on tall ones, &c. Its 

 chief advantage, however, is in the increase of resinous 

 trees, principally Pines, by inserting grafts on the points 

 of commoner species, which may be used as stocks. The 

 proper time for the operation is in May, when the 

 young shoots are just beginning to grow, or else when 

 growth stops and the shoots begin changing to a woody 

 nature. Stock and scion should be, if possible, similar 

 in texture. The former must be cut off just below the 

 terminal buds, and nearly all the leaves removed from 

 the point thus obtained. This should be carefully split, 

 and the scion prepared wedge - shaped, and inserted 

 rather deeply, allowing the barks to coincide, as in all 

 other methods. Tie in with worsted, cover the cuts 



Grafting continued. 



with grafting wax, and shade them from sunshine by 

 paper caps until growth is resumed. The Walnut may 

 be successfully propagated by terminal Herbaceous 

 Grafting, employing shoots for both scion and stock 

 that have not become woody. These trees may also be 

 terminal-grafted in spring, just before growth cotn- 



Root-grafting is practicable with many plants, either 

 on their own roots or on those of others, and a larger 

 stock is obtainable of such as succeed than by any other 

 method. Good roots should be secured as stocks when 

 the plants bearing them are in a dormant state, and the 

 grafts inserted, in most cases, when the sap begins to 

 flow in spring. Large fleshy roots, such as Dahlias and 

 Tree Pasonies, should have a notch cut in a triangular 

 form, about l^in. long, and the shoot or graft similarly 



FIG. 146. ROOT-GRAFTING (DAHLIAX 



prepared and made to fit therein (see Fig. 146). Other 

 plants largely propagated by Boot-grafting are Bignonias, 

 Clematis, Hollyhocks, and Wistarias. Saddle-grafting on 

 roots is sometimes employed. 



GRAFTING CLAY. This consists of two parts 

 clay and one of cow-dung. Some persons make an ad- 

 dition of finely-cut hay, as being of use in preventing the 

 Clay from cracking and falling off. These ingredients 

 should be beaten together, and thoroughly mixed, several 

 weeks before being required for use, and be then occa- 

 sionally turned and mixed again. If a cavity is made 

 in the top of the heap, and filled with water, the whole 

 bulk may be kept moist for a long time. Grafting Clay 

 is an economical composition, most useful for excluding 

 air and moisture until a union in the stock and scion 

 is effected. 



GRAFTING WAX. In grafting small or delicate 

 plants, the use of clay is scarcely practicable, and 

 various compositions of different substances have been 

 prepared for answering the same purpose. It is essen- 

 tial that whatever is used should not be injurious to 

 the cuts which have to be covered, either by drying or 

 burning them up. Neither must it crack or run off 

 under the action of natural heat and moisture. What is 

 known as warm mastic is applied in a lukewarm state, 

 by means of a small brush or broad wooden label. A good 

 Grafting Wax for using lukewarm may be made of three 

 parts each of resin and beeswax, and two parts of. 

 tallow; or these ingredients may be prepared in equal 



