'PROPAGATION BY GRAFTING. 41 



in spring, before the buds commence swelling, or even be- 

 fore the snow has disappeared from the ground. Apples 

 and pears may be grafted later, and if the scions have been 

 kept in good condition in a dormant state, they will mostly 

 grow if inserted after the trees are in leaf. 



After a graft is inserted, and as soon as the tree commen- 

 ces growth, the buds on the stock must be rubbed off, in 

 order to throw the rising sap into the scion. If large trees 

 are grafted, the buds need only rubbing off the single branch. 

 The practice of allowing leaves to expand on the stock near 

 the point of union, to "draw up the sap," appears to be 

 founded in error ; for the sap thus drawn up, passes only 

 into and is elaborated by those leaves, and is again imme- 

 diately returned to the stock below, without ever reaching 

 the graft. Each separate branch or portion of the stock, 

 cannot be nourished by the leaves of an opposite branch, foi 

 a leafless stump left by pruning off a limb, wholly ceases 

 growing. In the spring of the year, when the sap vessels 

 are in a state of impletion, if the sap is permitted to be con- 

 sumed by side leaves, less will flow towards the inserted 

 scion. Experience fully confirms this view of the sub- 

 ject. 



Where it becomes desirable to preserve rare sorts, which 

 have been grafted late in spring, a loose wrapper of white 

 paper round the graft will protect it from the drying and 

 scorching rays of the sun ; or shrivelling and failure will 

 often be prevented by covering the whole graft with a wax 

 plaster ; or by encasing it in moss kept damp by occasional 

 applications of water. 



Grafts are usually cut during the latter part of winter 01 

 early in spring ; but if well kept they may be taken from 

 the tree at any time between the cessation of growth in late 

 summer or autumn, and the commencement of vegetation 

 in spring. They may be kept safely if buried in moderate 

 ly moist earth ; the best way is to place them in a box open 

 downwards, and buried on a dry spot, the scions being kep ( 

 from actual contact with the earth by sticks across the box. 

 They may also be conveniently preserved in a box of damj 

 powdered moss ; or still better in moderately moist peat o 1 

 black muck. Sawdust answers the same purpose, if not ir 

 large quantities so as to become heated. 



