MARCH.] THE NURSERY. 045 



six inches of the ground ; but if for full standards, they may be 

 headed and grafted at five or six feet high, or in fact, at any height 

 you please, even at the surface of the ground, but more particularly 

 apples and pears ; for you can afterwards train the graft on a single 

 clean stem, as high as you like, and then top it, to cause it to 

 throw out side branches for forming a head : this is the best method 

 to treat stunted or ill formed stocks, but is not necessary for those 

 that are well thriven and straight ; for by it you would lose a year 

 of their growth, as you can immediately form the head from the 

 graft, when inserted at a proper height ; for dwarf and half stand- 

 ards, you may head and graft, at the height of two, three, or four 

 feet. 



There are various methods of grafting in practice ; such as whip- 

 grafting, cleft- grafting, crown-grafting, side-grafting, root-grafting 

 and grafting by approach or inarching ; but the two former are in 

 more general use among experienced gardeners, particularly the 

 first, as being every way preferable to any other, when the stocks 

 are under an inch in diameter. 



First) by Whip-grafting. 



This kind of grafting is that most commonly practised in nur- 

 series, as being both the most expeditious and successful, and may 

 be performed upon smaller stocks, than any other ; for it is effect- 

 ed with the greatest success upon such as are, from about half an 

 inch, or less, to near an inch in diameter : the method of perform- 

 ing the work is this. 



Having the cions .or grafts, knife, bandages, and clay ready; 

 then begin the work by cutting off the head of the stock, at some 

 clear smooth part thereof ; generally performing this, by one clean 

 slanting cut upwards, so as to form a slope on one side about an 

 inch and a half, or two inches in length, and make a notch or small 

 slit, from near the upper part downwards, a little better than half an 

 inch long, to receive the tongue of thecion ; then prepare thecion, 

 by cutting it to five or six inches in length, preferring the lower 

 or thick part, and cutting the bottom end on one side also, in a slop- 

 ing manner, the length of, and to fit the slope of the stock, as if 

 cut from the same place ; that the rinds of both may join as nearly 

 as possible in every part, as if you were splicing a fishing-rod ; but 

 when the stock is much larger than the cion, this cannot be done so 

 exactly, unless you insert it on the opposite side of the stock to the 

 slope ; however, that will not be necessary, provided you join the 

 rinds or bark of both, so as to fit neatly on either edge or side of the 

 slope ; then make a slit upwards in the slope of the cion, so as to 

 form a sort of tongue to fit that made in the slope of the stock, 

 which insert therein, so that the rinds of both may join together 

 exactly, at least at one side, and immediately tie the parts together 

 with a ligature of bass, &c. bringing it in a neat manner several 

 times round the stock and graft, moderately tight, and fastened ac- 

 cordingly. 



